Siemens Arc Faults Tripping.

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deuceelectric

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Electrician
Has anyone had issues with Siemens arc fault breakers tripping. I recently switched over to Siemens breakers within the last year. I used to use Square D Homeline breakers and never had any issues for two years. Does anyone have any tips to prevent these arc faults from tripping?
 
You have to specify the type of installation they are protecting and look into reports of similar issues for the specific type of installation.

I came across a situation where a customer had a malfunctioning ELV light. I tested the transformer with power applied to the primary and found no power on the secondary, thus discerning the transformer was bad. Checking the rest of the circuit, I found someone had put this light on standard dimmers as opposed to ELV dimmers, causing the damage to the transformer. I replaced both components, but still had a semi-malfunctioning light (only one pendant was kicking on w/ brand new bulbs in all three), so I then discerned that the damaged transformer had caused additional damage to the light track. I installed a new light, exact replacement, and everything worked fine.

Got a call back a week later that circuit was still tripping and had no idea why. This prompted me to look up AFCI breakers on ELV transformers and I found other reports of similar problems. It's all about the specific context to which they are applied... and sometimes you gotta endure looking like you don't know everything to discover new knowledge. The idea that we're supposed to know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING is a joke perpetuated only by people who have no idea how much actually goes into electrical work, but I digress.

Other than that... the main things are (1) ensuring it's not on MWBC and (2) your wires aren't damaged and thus arcing.

AFCI, while made code in 2011, is still a relatively new technology.
 
tom baker said:
AFCIs were first required in the 1999 NEC. The requirements have been expanded since then
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Really 1999? I thought it was 2011. Huh

Either way, I stand by my comments that (1) they are still a relatively new technology and (2) the OP needs to specify the type of installation his AFCI is protecting.
 
deuceelectric said:
Has anyone had issues with Siemens arc fault breakers tripping. I recently switched over to Siemens breakers within the last year. I used to use Square D Homeline breakers and never had any issues for two years. Does anyone have any tips to prevent these arc faults from tripping?
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What is the application which they are causing issues?

I had issues with the combo AFCI/GFCI Square D breakers with new kuereg machine and brand new washing machine. I think we are all familiar with older home appliances with motors are common causes.
 
Rock86 said:
What is the application which they are causing issues?

I had issues with the combo AFCI/GFCI Square D breakers with new kuereg machine and brand new washing machine. I think we are all familiar with older home appliances with motors are common causes.
Click to expand...
Another good example of specificity. First time I encountered this is when I learned about separating the neutral and case/frame bond at the machine.
 
There were so many posts about AFCIs we had a special topic for them, moderated by someone from cutler hammer. After a few years the questions were not that many, so we eliminated that topic.
AFCIs still remain controversial, much like GFCIs in the 70s, mainly due to tripping from electrician wiring errors.
 
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