Tripping ArcFault Breaker
- Thread starter rferrel1
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curious george
Member
It might have been a screw or nail poked through the wire, then pulled out. Try going to the far end of the circuit run and disconnecting one receptacle, device, or connection joint at a time and then go back and engerize the circuit. Continue until the breaker holds. You will then know the problem lies within the circuit between the last operating device and the most recently disconnected device. Potentionally time consuming.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
bkludecke
Senior Member
- Location
- Big Bear Lake, CA
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Check the circuit for an equipment ground touching a grounded (neutral) conductor. Also check for loose Neutral connections.
Bob
Bob
- Location
- Logan, Utah
I agree with bob,
Typically what causes the Arc-fault breaker to trip is the GFPE protection not the AFCI. AFCI breakers have GFPE protection that will trip at about 30 to 50 milli-amps typically.
If this lighting circuit has recessed cans on it I would check those first, I have seen problems with the "neutral" wire touching the metal splice box or ground wire.
Chris
Typically what causes the Arc-fault breaker to trip is the GFPE protection not the AFCI. AFCI breakers have GFPE protection that will trip at about 30 to 50 milli-amps typically.
If this lighting circuit has recessed cans on it I would check those first, I have seen problems with the "neutral" wire touching the metal splice box or ground wire.
Chris
macmikeman
Senior Member
- Location
- Planet macmikeman
Another thing you can check. If there are multi-gang switch boxes with multiple circuits there may be a situation where the ark protected neutral is connected with a neutral from a different circuit. This one shows up as soon as a load is energized.
marinesgt0411
Senior Member
- Location
- Naples,FL 34110-9285
Make sure you have correct nuetral landed on breaker and you are not shareing a nuetral with another circuit
Try putting circuit on a non archfault breaker if it holds you have a nuetral problem. shared nuetral, loose nuetral,nuetral shorted to ground, also check for parrellel nuetrals (2 threeways in one box with all nuetrals together on load side of three ways),check cieling boxes to see if nuetralis capped off not just the hot.and last check all recessed cans for loose nuetrals
time consumeing Pain well you know the rest
If I know how the circuit is run I like to start in the middle and kepp cutting the circuit in half till I track down the problem
Try putting circuit on a non archfault breaker if it holds you have a nuetral problem. shared nuetral, loose nuetral,nuetral shorted to ground, also check for parrellel nuetrals (2 threeways in one box with all nuetrals together on load side of three ways),check cieling boxes to see if nuetralis capped off not just the hot.and last check all recessed cans for loose nuetrals
time consumeing Pain well you know the rest
If I know how the circuit is run I like to start in the middle and kepp cutting the circuit in half till I track down the problem
Different reasons I have found for nuisance tripping AFI breakers........
1) Ground to N connection
2) Misties in muti-gang switch boxes with more than 1 neutral source wir in them.
3) Rare but.....bad AFI breaker
4) Nail or screw in wire
5) Wrong neutral terminated on breaker in panel.
6) Loose neutral connection in panel(screw completeley backed off)
and, my # 1 favorite of all times....Customer was using her chrome bath bar fixture as a necklace tree. Gold chain was thrown over two lampholders, was contacting neutral screwshell of 1 lamp and chrome grounded chrome fixture shroud on the other lamp. I will admit it took me a little while to find this one.
Also, when troubleshooting, rather than start at the end of the circuit and work your way back to the homerun, start in the middle of the circuit (if you know how the circuit is routed). That way, you will be 1/2 done checking device connections after your 1st one. Good luck.
1) Ground to N connection
2) Misties in muti-gang switch boxes with more than 1 neutral source wir in them.
3) Rare but.....bad AFI breaker
4) Nail or screw in wire
5) Wrong neutral terminated on breaker in panel.
6) Loose neutral connection in panel(screw completeley backed off)
and, my # 1 favorite of all times....Customer was using her chrome bath bar fixture as a necklace tree. Gold chain was thrown over two lampholders, was contacting neutral screwshell of 1 lamp and chrome grounded chrome fixture shroud on the other lamp. I will admit it took me a little while to find this one.
Also, when troubleshooting, rather than start at the end of the circuit and work your way back to the homerun, start in the middle of the circuit (if you know how the circuit is routed). That way, you will be 1/2 done checking device connections after your 1st one. Good luck.
jwelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- North Carolina
bkludecke said:
I would suggest getting up all the drop cords and any trash laying around. Then keep a close eye on everyone that might be around.
If it still keeps tripping it might be that is drunk or sick or something like that.
Seriously I agree with everything that has been posted thus far. It has been my experience that a EGC is touching something somewhere of a multi gang switch box has all the neutrals gathered under one wire nut instead of being installed like they should.
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