I installed a GE single pole 15 amp arc fault for some lighting in a condo. The breaker will occasionally trip to the off position on the breaker when some recessed cans and low voltage track lights are turned on together. Would the breaker be detecting an arc fault or an overload condition? I'm not sure? Any thoughts?
GE Arc Fault Question
- Thread starter chris1971
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I bet they are Halo cans. There has been lots of issues with halo cans and also their lamp extenders, tripping afci.
bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
My guesses:
1. A ground-fault condition. (grounded conductor to EGC contact)
2. an arcing condition.
3. a overload.
4. Bad breaker.
1. A ground-fault condition. (grounded conductor to EGC contact)
2. an arcing condition.
3. a overload.
4. Bad breaker.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
If you give all the possible conditions that cause an afci to trip then one must be right.
BTW, I have had only one afci by GE that was a problem.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Those are the cans that have caused problems. When the bulb is tightened all the way it pushes the tab too far back. I bet if you loosen the bulb a tad it will not trip.
jwjrw
Senior Member
Dennis Halo is the brand we always use. Every remodel we do usually has can lighting in most rooms. We have not had any issues with arc faults tripping. We do not use Ge though. Have you heard of other brands of arc's tripping with Halo's?
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Absolutely-- I am telling you this has been an issue for years. It's a Halo problem and not all the time. I had problems with CFL lamps in the 4" cans and friends who use Cutler Hammer have had problems with the socket extender.
Not sure why the tracks would cause the problem.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I believe the tab touches the can.
BTW-- I use Halo also. There are other threads on this issue.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
If you give all the possible conditions that cause an afci to trip then one must be right.
That was the point...
Most troubleshooting is a process of elimination. The first step is to identify all the possible sources of the problem.
There are only so many things that can cause a breaker to trip...
- Status