Arc fault problems

[dave blethen]

Has anyone had a problem with the arc fault breakers after a solar system was installed we wired the house 2 years ago now all the arc faults keep tripping. I was told to put in arc gfi combo breakers this will solve the problem. This doesn’t make sense to me but. I tried it and for 2 days no trips anyone know why.

 

[ptonsparky]

Has anyone had a problem with the arc fault breakers after a solar system was installed we wired the house 2 years ago now all the arc faults keep tripping. I was told to put in arc gfi combo breakers this will solve the problem. This doesn’t make sense to me but. I tried it and for 2 days no trips anyone know why.

Newer versions seem to be sorting the bugs out better. There were a lot of them.

 

[dave blethen]

Just an update the combo breakers dic not work the heating system and lighting shut down

 

[ptonsparky]

Why are they on the heating system?

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Trying to figure out why an AFCI is tripping is about as difficult as trying to figure out what Joe Biden is saying.

I recommend installing the new version with the diagnostic trip codes on the breakers, for starters.

 

[ptonsparky]

I recommend installing the new version with the diagnostic trip codes on the breakers, for starters.

I would have thought a dual function device would have those codes.

OP. What are they indicating?

 

[dave blethen]

The home owner resets the breakers it random breakers tripping not always the same this all started when the solar system was installed a few weeks ago i have replaced every breaker twice the last time is with arc and gfi comdos just found out yesterday that the tripping just started again the home owner noticed it happens when the solar system goes from sun to batteries

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

AFCIs will trip when power comes on, when power is lost, because of transients, harmonics, any number of things.

I commonly have GFCIs trip when utility power is lost, and they need to be reset. AFCIs are worse.

It seems that you have narrowed it down to the power switching over, so it’s more than likely some irregularity in the inverter.

Other than that, I have no useful advice, except pull all the AFCIs out and throw them in the trash. They’re just snake oil anyway.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

I guess you could put a power logger on it and see what is actually happening and see if an SPD or some type of filter would work.

Personally I’d just toss the AFCIs.

 

[dave blethen]

The home owner is a code believer and very smart just can’t see what is in front of her

 

[dave blethen]

Thanks i just must convince her the solar system is the problem

 

[ptonsparky]

Thanks i just must convince her the solar system is the problem.

Take the solar off line for a few days, see what happens.

Instruct her how to read the codes or video as she turns them back on.