Tripping arc/ground fault breakers

[Nathangerke]

I have a house where multiple Sq D qo dual function arch faul ground fault breakers(purple button) are all tripping together but only happens sporadically. Does anyone have experience with or ideas about possible causes?

 

[JFletcher]

Radio interference. there is a YouTube video of this happening (numerous AFCI breakers simultaneously tripping) with certain radio frequencies. I do not know what the solution was in that case however, newer generation afci Breakers are supposedly more resistant to this kind of interference.

Noise on the electrical system from another source maybe a possibility as well.

 

[K8MHZ]

Radio interference. there is a YouTube video of this happening (numerous AFCI breakers simultaneously tripping) with certain radio frequencies. I do not know what the solution was in that case however, newer generation afci Breakers are supposedly more resistant to this kind of interference.

Noise on the electrical system from another source maybe a possibility as well.

So far the solution to RFI tripping breakers was the manufacturer sending upgrade replacement breakers that had word HAM on them. I don't know how many it worked or did not work on, but in one video the radio antenna was 400 feet from the breaker panel at a neighbor's house and was tripping AFCI breakers.

 

[LarryFine]

So far the solution to RFI tripping breakers was the manufacturer sending upgrade replacement breakers that had word HAM on them.

 

[kwired]

Everything is better with BACON on it.

 

[kwired]

I have a house where multiple Sq D qo dual function arch faul ground fault breakers(purple button) are all tripping together but only happens sporadically. Does anyone have experience with or ideas about possible causes?

Presuming all Square D Dual Function breakers have diagnostic feature - did you run that? Assuming it will indicate it tripped on AFCI function though.

 

[LarryFine]

Everything is better with BACON on it.

Clickable:

 

[mivey]

Everything is better with BACON on it.

{sing-song}Everything's better with Blue Bonnet onit.

 

[Nathangerke]

Presuming all Square D Dual Function breakers have diagnostic feature - did you run that? Assuming it will indicate it tripped on AFCI function though.

Not sure what you mean by diagonostic feature, there is a trip indicate but that doesn't show why it trips.

 

[Nathangerke]

So far the solution to RFI tripping breakers was the manufacturer sending upgrade replacement breakers that had word HAM on them. I don't know how many it worked or did not work on, but in one video the radio antenna was 400 feet from the breaker panel at a neighbor's house and was tripping AFCI breakers.

The house is in the landing path of a major airport. I think if radio interference is the issue that could be the cause.

 

[ptonsparky]

Not sure what you mean by diagonostic feature, there is a trip indicate but that doesn't show why it trips.

Read the instructions for those units. They should be new enough to have a fault code.

 

[kwired]

Not sure what you mean by diagonostic feature, there is a trip indicate but that doesn't show why it trips.

I don't know how their date code works but anything with a date code 1130 or higher has a diagnostic feature to tell you if it tripped on AFCI, GFCI or thermal magnetic functions. I think most if not all dual function AFCI/GFCI breakers are new enough they all have this feature. It is not an obvious test if you don't read instructions. You need to turn the breaker off if it isn't already, then press and hold the test button while turning it on. How long it takes to trip afterward indicates which feature was the reason for last trip.

Both QO and Homeline have this feature if new enough.

Here is the details

https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_enDocType=Handout&p_File_Name=0700HO1402.pdf&p_Doc_Ref=0700HO1402