Troubleshooting kitchen AFCI circuitry

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Alphaelectrical

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Electrical Contractor
If anyone can help me figure this out, I would be very grateful.
I have a new customer that is having issues with the AFCI circuitry in his kitchen, including the oven. At any given time, he will have multiple small appliances plugged in (not in-use), and for no reason, the AFCI breaker(s) will trip. This only happens in the kitchen. The home was remodeled a couple years ago, and he recently bought it in Denver. After he explained what was happening, I had to scratch my head, as I couldn't imagine why this would be. The main panel is a 200a 40/40 main lug GE, with manufacturers breakers/ devices.
After pondering what could be the problem, I could only come to the conclusion that it may be a neutral issue in the main panel, or a defective panel.
Any thoughts or recommendations are appreciated.
 
A neutral problem in the main panel will manifest itself in pretty obvious ways. High voltage L-N and a corresponding Low voltage on the other L-N at the same time. Lighting going bright/dim etc.

You could easily have crossed neutrals on the load side of the AFCIs starting at the breakers themselves on out to j-boxes made up with ''all whites together' regardless of where or what circuits are involved. MWBC were very popular at one time and AFCIs generally don't tolerate them.

New home or existing with new AFCIs?
 
I know what the issue is - you have a panel full of gfci breakers. Only half joking.

Now the more serious part.

If the guy recently bought the house, it could have been happening since the beginning after the remodel.

Have they tried unplugging everything for an extended period?

I don't envy you. Good luck
 
Alphaelectrical said:
....After pondering what could be the problem, I could only come to the conclusion that it may be a neutral issue in the main panel, or a defective panel.
Any thoughts or recommendations are appreciated.
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That would be my last guess. AFCIs are proven to nuisance trip even from a load on an unrelated circuit and manufactures have admitted it openly.

Swap the offending breakers out with a gfci breaker to track down or rule out any wiring errors and any neutral to equipment ground faults and then call the supply house and get the most recently made model of AFCI and hopefully that ends up a permanent solution.
 
I agree with Dave, the new ones are less sensitive. The manufacturers knew they had to cut the effectiveness of the breakers . Otherwise entire states may have struck them from they're adopted code. That means $$$$
 
Alphaelectrical said:
This is an older home that had a complete remodel. New panel, and new breakers. I was not involved in the wiring/ construction, so I am going in blind.
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I'm always skeptical of a remodel until I check the wiring out for myself. Some of the time they do a great job and some of the time it's not so great.
 
Had an issue similar a year or so back. Multiple appliances (grounded and ungrounded) plugged in to the Recepts along the counters in a remodeled kitchen (was once a dining room kitchen combo). Home was only 6 years old at the time. No appliances were pulling a load and boom, tripped AFCI. Turned out to be the dang coffee pot that had a grounded male plug end and the neutral/EGC were making slight contact in the appliance. The App had a digital clock so I guess it’s constant “on” state compounded the issue over a few months. Damndest thing I ever saw. New pot and a sizable troubleshoot check later the issue was solved. Homeline panel. Dual function breakers. Good luck.
 
iustacould said:
Turned out to be the dang coffee pot that had a grounded male plug end and the neutral/EGC were making slight contact in the appliance..
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing this. So far, my only intermittent AFCI troubles came from dusty power strips, damaged cords, or went away with firmware updates.

GE AFCI's are uniquely missing a Ground Fault feature, but neutral/EGC resistance changes, or funky appliance/clocks, may still trip GE AFCI's. See last paragraph below:

arc fault/dual function breaker tripping.

Sorry, but this 'signal' sounds like more manufacturers propaganda Kwired You never heard of Rockwell Automation's Retro Encabulator, and the modial interaction of magneto reluctance and capacitive duractance.
forums.mikeholt.com
 
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