Your AFCI breaker trips due to hazardous sparking, helping to protect you from electrical fires. Common reasons for your AFCI breaker trips include incompatibility, faulty devices, damaged or faulty wiring, and overloaded circuits. Identify the problem by isolating the device or circuit that's having issues.
An arc-fault breaker looks for an arc fault. Arc faults are very commonly caused by loose connections. Maybe a screw is not tightened to the correct torque, or maybe a wire nut is not tight, or the wires were not pre-twisted before the wire nut was applied.
Absent from the list of spaces that require AFCI protection are: bathrooms, outdoors, unfinished basements, crawl spaces, attics and garage spaces, to name a few.
Device incompatibility is perhaps the leading cause of AFCI breaker tripping. Try unplugging everything from the protected receptacles, turning off all lights, and seeing if the breaker still trips after resetting. If it doesn't trip, the issue is likely caused by a faulty appliance, overloading, or poor connections.
Additionally, the type of circuit breaker also plays a role in the device's longevity. For example, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) or Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) last around 15 to 20 years.
Again, the first diagnostic step should be determining if the arc fault is in the permanent wiring or in an appliance or its cord. Isolate all appliances by disconnecting them. If the AFCI does NOT trip when it is reclosed, then the problem is likely in an appliance or its power cord.
As long as you do not leave it in place beyond your troubleshooting, a standard breaker could be put in the panel in place of the AFCI.
Start by turning off all the lights, appliances, and electronic devices in your home. Then, reset the main circuit breaker by switching it off and on. Afterward, turn on each circuit one at a time, and observe which one trips the breaker. Once you've identified the circuit, you can focus on narrowing down the problem.
Nuisance tripping is the #1 complaint contractors have when installing AFCIs. After installation, homeowners may experience nuisance tripping when using a new vacuum cleaner or appliance. Then the contractor gets the call. The last thing they want to do is to go back for a warranty service call.
It's important to note that fridges in other living spaces, like a basement, are not exempted. If the fridge is in any other room, it will need AFCI protection. GFCI's, on the other hand, monitor the current coming and going.
Outlet Branch Circuit (OBC) AFCI Devices are an alternative solution to AFCI Breakers. These devices are designed to help prevent electrical fires that can be caused by potentially dangerous arc-faults in an electrical circuit. An arc-fault is an unintentional arcing condition that occurs in an electrical circuit.
While they may not be legally required, it is highly recommended to have AFCI breakers installed for the safety of your home. As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your home is equipped with the necessary safety measures.
An Arc-Fault is a dangerous electrical problem caused by damaged, overheated, or stressed electrical wiring or devices. Arc-faults can occur when older wires become frayed or cracked, when a nail or screw damages a wire behind a wall, or when outlets or circuits are compromised.
Any correctly operating surge protector system (with no excessive leakage) will not trip a SQUARE D AFCI circuit breaker.
Ask yourself if a person is likely to interact with the branch circuit by plugging things in. If so, the Code probably requires GFCI protection. With an AFCI, the original question was whether people might not detect arcing in the branch circuit due to being asleep.
AFCI breakers are normally installed in new construction, including bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and laundry rooms. An AFCI breaker costs about as much as a standard breaker ($30-$50), while a GFCI breaker costs around $200.
Plaintiffs claim that Siemens' AFCIs fail to adequately distinguish between harmless and dangerous electrical arcs. As a result, Siemens' defective AFCI breakers suffer from nuisance tripping.
Reasons Why Your AFCI Breaker May Be Tripping
You'll know your AFCI breaker trips when outlets on that circuit no longer work. Your breaker can malfunction due to a frayed electrical cord, an incompatible device or appliance, improper wiring, or something as simple as a nail put through a wire.
Each year arc-faults, caused by worn and inadequate wiring, overburdened circuits, outdated technology, and aging electrical systems, start more than 35,000 home fires causing over 1,130 injuries, 500 deaths, and $1.4 billion in property damage.
The only time you wouldn't need to add an AFCI breaker to a 15- or 20-amp circuit is if the light fixtures—and the switches to those fixtures—are located in rooms not mentioned above, such as: Basements. Garages. Attics.
With your breaker in the on position and at least one device turned on in the circuit, press down on the AFCI “TEST” button. The AFCI breaker should trip and move the switch to the OFF position (or the middle “TRIP” position if there is one). If the breaker trips when you press the “TEST” button, the AFCI is working.
All 120-volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets installed in dwelling unit family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms or areas shall be protected by a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter, ...