arc fault problem!!!!!!!!!

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mayotipp

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Hi everyone, I have a small problem with arc fault circuit. I have a 15 amp arc fault feeding a master bedroom and the lights and fan of the master bath. I turn on the circuit , all the recptacles are fine, I turn on the fan and the 2 shower cans they are fine. Then I turn on the strip light and it trips. I took the light down nothing pinched put it back up and it is fine. As soon as I screw the light bulb in it trips. I reset the breaker and flipped the switch with no bulbs and it is fine. I tried a different light socket and it tripped again! Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks Again:confused:
 
I suspect the grounded conductor in the circuit suppling the light fixture is contacting the grounding conductor.

Or somehow the wrong grounded conductor was used with this fixture.

What I believe is happening is that the all the current 'used' by the lamp is not finding its way back to the AFCI breakers white connection.

AFCIs contain a GFCI component that will trip if the current on the two circuit conductors is not balanced.
 
Try an electronic ballast and or a higher quality lamp and not one of those green ended low cost mercury free 25 watt shop lamps, or check and make sure you haven't joined up a neutral from another circuit in the box the switch is in, or replace with a less defective AFCI breaker, OR .... when all else fails, .... put in a regular breaker.

Out of all these I think the electronic ballast might be the best choice to try first.
 
Try one more thing: turn on the fixture with no bulbs installed, and then screw them in one at a time.

I once found a bulb with metal bridging the center contact and the shell. We ended up replacing the fixture.

(Shhh!) :twisted:
 
Thanks for all the help. Larry that is what I did , I turned on the fixture with no bulbs and it was fine. I tried 3 of the 6 sockets so I think I will have to double check the neutrals.
THanks Again
 
I agree with Iwire.proably ground and neutral in contact somewhere.
I have had many a servcie call on afci Breaker. I have also found that if all the connections are not tight the breaker will tripp do to minor arching of loose connection
I cant tell you how many lazy Electricians I run across that do not tighten wire nuts or even worse do not twist wires.

It is most likley either ground in contact with the nuetral some place or a loose connection in the fixture. I would take a part the circuit at panel including Neutral and ground wire read between ground and Neutral wireswith a meter there should be no continuity between Ground and Neutrtal.
 
A word of caution: do not assume that because the symptoms are showing when you play with the fixture that the fixture or the switch is the culprit.

AFCI's lie. Stay very mentally impartial as you dig in. It could actually be anywhere. Been there, got the T-shirt.
 
77401 said:
..what happens if you swap the hot & Neutral wires on the fixture or at the switch?
Click to expand...
Then the screw shell becomes hot and we are in violation of NEC 200.10(C) . While changing bulbs its too easy to touch the hot screw shells and short the other hand on the fixture grounding.
 
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