Quick question on AFCI breakers

[KnobnTube]

Haven't really thought about this till today,lol.
Have had to go through the circuits before to find a fault when the AFCI trips but one quick question on the AFCI.
If I have it installed (line neutral connected) and no load connected (hot or neutral) and turn on the breaker, will the breaker operate? or trip?
Just checking if this is a for sure test on a bad AFCI or not.
Thanks!

 

[480sparky]

If you're asking if you just install the breaker on the bus bar and hook up the pigtail to the neutral bar (no branch circuit conductors connected at all), then it should not trip when turned on.

 

[KnobnTube]

Yep, thats it

Yep, thats it

If you're asking if you just install the breaker on the bus bar and hook up the pigtail to the neutral bar (no branch circuit conductors connected at all), then it should not trip when turned on.

That is what I was asking sparky, Just havent thought about till today after a trouble call.
Thanks,

 

[480sparky]

That is what I was asking sparky, Just havent thought about till today after a trouble call.
Thanks,

Without any branch circuit conductors hooked up to it, no breaker (AFCI, GFCI, or even a plain-jane one) should have any reason to trip.

 

[al hildenbrand]

I agree with 480 that an AFCI breaker, mounted in the panel with its pigtail neutral tied down to the panel neutral terminal strip, and with no branch circuit conductors connected to the load terminals on the AFCI breaker, will turn on and hold just fine. One can then press the test button, and the AFCI breaker should trip.

Just checking if this is a for sure test on a bad AFCI or not.

Personally, I'd say it's a pretty good test. . . just not a 100% for sure test.

When I troubleshoot an AFCI trip, pulling the load conductors from the breaker and having it hold on, without immediately tripping, is good enough for me to move it to the bottom of the list of likely causes. I won't take it off the list. I'll then turn my attention to investigating the things at the top of the list.