why does it not work

[Ponchik]

I have a 14-3 cable in a panel and tried to connect it to an AFCI in the following ways, but the AFCI would trip on all three tests. The AFCI is a good unit because i tried it on a two conductor circuit.

test #1: connected the two hots together (essentially one circuit) and one pigtail under the breaker with the neutral. (breaker trips)
test #2: Connected the black conductor with the neutral to the breaker and have the red disconnected (breaker trips)
test #3:Connected the red conductor with the neutral to the breaker and have the black disconnected (breaker trips)

Maybe I am having a brain freeze, help me see the common problem.

Thanks.

 

[ptonsparky]

Neutral probably is tied to another in a remote j box.

Remove all three wire from cb. Use continuity tester to check each for continuity to the neutral bar. Megger is better, but try this first.

 

[ptonsparky]

Or a. Ground fault on any of the three conductors.

 

[Ponchik]

Neutral probably is tied to another in a remote j box.

Remove all three wire from cb. Use continuity tester to check each for continuity to the neutral bar. Megger is better, but try this first.

Or a. Ground fault on any of the three conductors.

Thank you.

That makes total sense. Didn't think about testing it.

 

[JFletcher]

Is there any load at all on the circuits?* Did you connect the pigtail from the breaker to the neutral bar? Did you try a standard CB?

*A GFCI outlet is a load in this case and will insta trip an AFCI if there is neutrals crossed up or other problems.

 

[1964element]

It's a neutral going elsewhere

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

 

[Ponchik]

Is there any load at all on the circuits?* Did you connect the pigtail from the breaker to the neutral bar? Did you try a standard CB?

*A GFCI outlet is a load in this case and will insta trip an AFCI if there is neutrals crossed up or other problems.

standard CB works fine, there are no GFCI on that circuit and both circuits have loads on them.

As mentioned earlier, it is probably a crossed neutral. It will be interesting to find out.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[kwired]

Connect neutral only and see if breaker holds.

If not even more signs of crossed neutral or still can be a ground fault.