Intermittent ArcFault tripping

[Bob’sElectric]

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster.
I’m having an issue with a bedroom arc fault circuit intermittently tripping. I’ve replaced the breakers. I’ve pulled and inspected the wiring and devices. I’ve changed out all the cfl bulbs (around 12 recessed, and a chandelier) for LED. This solved the issue for 6 months. I’ve had the homeowner remove all plug in stuff- lamps, cell chargers, landline cordless phones, alarm clocks, etc. Circuit will be okay for a week, two weeks, then trip. I’m running out of ideas

 

[LarryFine]

Welcome to the forum!

I had a similar call. I swapped the load wires with those on an adjacent AFCI breaker and haven't heard back in 3 months.

 

[ptonsparky]

Does your breaker have the onboard diagnostics? Is it the latest model? Have you used a megger on the Branch Circuit? Brand?

 

[peter d]

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster.
I’m having an issue with a bedroom arc fault circuit intermittently tripping. I’ve replaced the breakers. I’ve pulled and inspected the wiring and devices. I’ve changed out all the cfl bulbs (around 12 recessed, and a chandelier) for LED. This solved the issue for 6 months. I’ve had the homeowner remove all plug in stuff- lamps, cell chargers, landline cordless phones, alarm clocks, etc. Circuit will be okay for a week, two weeks, then trip. I’m running out of ideas

Take the breaker out, put it under the tire of your truck, the put the truck in "drive" and move forward slowly until you hear the crunching sound.

 

[hbiss]

Who is the manufacturer and what do the diagnostics say? It's not likely that information is going to be of much use but it does give us something to chew on for a page or two.

To cut to the chase, in many cases like this there is no legitimate reason for the AFCI breaker to trip. Not knowing anything about this installation, is there any way to replace the breaker with that of another manufacturer? Other than that your hands are tied. We can't legally replace them with a regular breaker. So there is no way to fix this.

If you were just called for service on this I would tell the customer to call another EC. Pass the headache on to them.

-Hal

 

[LarryFine]

In my case, it was occasional, and caused by a bedroom lamp with an on-off switch.

 

[romex jockey]

To cut to the chase, in many cases like this there is no legitimate reason for the AFCI breaker to trip

.
One would think, by now, the 'powers that be' would have forwarded absolutes>>>>
https://www.afcisafety.org/home-owners/unwanted-tripping/

We can't legally replace them with a regular breaker. So there is no way to fix this.

we can use GE afci's

they rarely trip

of course the 'powers that be' are rather tight lipped about that as well

~RJ~

 

[ptonsparky]

.
One would think, by now, the 'powers that be' would have forwarded absolutes>>>>
https://www.afcisafety.org/home-owners/unwanted-tripping/




we can use GE afci's

they rarely trip

of course the 'powers that be' are rather tight lipped about that as well


~RJ~

Yes, but then we really don't know if they are working, or not, when they should be. :roll:


No different than the others.

 

[hbiss]

we can use GE afci's

they rarely trip

of course the 'powers that be' are rather tight lipped about that as well

~RJ~

That's why I asked if it was possible to replace the current breaker with another manufacturers breaker. Other than that I know nothing.

-Hal

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

From my experience the intermittent trip is usually caused by a neutral ground fault.
Over tightened clamps, pinched neutrals, not necessarily down to the copper.

 

[hbiss]

From my experience the intermittent trip is usually caused by a neutral ground fault.
Over tightened clamps, pinched neutrals, not necessarily down to the copper.

To confirm that temporarily replace the AFCI breaker with a GFCI breaker.

-Hal

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

To confirm that temporarily replace the AFCI breaker with a GFCI breaker.

-Hal

Nice catch!!
I forgot to add that part.
That is how I usually trouble shoot them.

 

[kwired]

we can use GE afci's

they rarely trip

Neither did the standard thermal-mag breakers

 

[romex jockey]

Neither did the standard thermal-mag breakers

I'm unsure if the resi mini ocpd market ever had a standard kwired....:?~RJ~

 

[Sparky314]

Had the same problem, try changing the breaker location in the panel. Worked for me.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I swear there is some voodoo stuff at work with afci and gfci. I have had a gfci trip when laptops were plugged into a different circuit. This was at my house. The only time the receptacle tripped was when they visited and plugged their chargers or laptops into an unrelated circuit. I also had a home owner say the same -- I told her it
was the laptops in another room and she eventually found out I was correct. VOODOO

​