Questions tagged [afci]
Arc-fault circuit interrupter are safety switches, similar to GFCI, that are used to detect electrical arcing and shutoff power to prevent the risk of fire.
217
questions
1
vote
1
answer
70
views
No GFCI/AFCI In House, Identifying Path Forward
I recently purchased a house that lacks a single GFCI or AFCI breaker or outlet. I spent a day mapping out every receptacle, light, fan, etc.
Now that I understand each branch and what it powers, I'm ...
2
votes
2
answers
178
views
Multi Wire Branch Circuit for Kitchen Small Appliances Circuit, AFCI and GFCI required
I need to redo the electrical in my kitchen. I want to add an EMT ring around the kitchen with two lives and a neutral inside in a multi wire branch circuit configuration for the two required small ...
6
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Diagnosing tripped breaker on the dishwasher circuit?
Our dishwasher trips the breaker every time, mid-cycle, and I'm having trouble diagnosing the issue with my limited electrical knowledge. Here are some facts/observations that I hope are relevant:
...
0
votes
1
answer
65
views
Are there kits to add plug on neutral bars to existing breaker boxes?
I have an existing square D non-plug on neutral breaker box (believe it's a SO, about 20 years old).
My questions is if there is a install kit to either add the neutral plug in rail or replace the ...
1
vote
1
answer
60
views
Would AFCI protection be required if I added another outlet to an existing branch circuit in a bathroom?
I have some confusion because on the one hand AFCI protection is not specified as needed in bathrooms by the NEC, but on the other hand the NEC does state that AFCI protection needs to be added when ...
1
vote
1
answer
46
views
AFCI/GFCI at panel from bathroom that doesn't have a GFCI
Our bathroom outlet is not a GFCI. There is an AFCI/GFCI at the panel which trips way too much. I want to replace the regular outlet with a GFCI outlet and put a regular circuit breaker instead of ...
-1
votes
2
answers
392
views
Why does my GFCI/AFCI breaker trip with pigtail wire connected?
My Eaton dual function 20A breaker provides power to the gas stove outlet. It trips frequently, every 1.5 hours, after resetting and even if nothing is loaded.
I bought and installed a new one. I ...
0
votes
0
answers
74
views
Electric fireplace in AFCI circuit
I have a new 15amp circuit with AFCI breakers. It is dedicated for 120v electric fireplace. The issue I am facing is that the moment I turn the fireplace on the breaker trips. My questions are -
...
0
votes
2
answers
134
views
AFCI tripped when I plugged something in, now it trips immediately with no load
I turned on my vacuum cleaner and the power on that circuit immediately went out. The breaker wasn't tripped, but just outside the panel there's an AFCI receptacle that's tripped. I just recently ...
2
votes
2
answers
446
views
Ceiling Fan with Light Causing AFCI Breaker to Trip - works in one room but not the other
I have two rooms each with:
LED lights connected to a dimmer switch
Ceiling fan with integrated LED light connected to an on/off switch
My objective is to have the light in the ceiling fan to be ...
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why does my waffle maker regularly trip AFCI?
Our house (built in 2017) has per code a large percentage of combination GFCI/AFCI breakers. We have a waffle maker that regularly trips the breaker just as its heating up cycle is about to complete. ...
1
vote
1
answer
117
views
Would it be wise to replace all non-AFCI 15 and 20 amp breakers with AFCI? [duplicate]
I have a panel with AFCI in most of the 15/20amp services to receptacles.
My question involves places like kitchens and bathrooms. While they appear to have GFCI protection from the first receptacle ...
1
vote
0
answers
76
views
AFCI trips on (microwave | laser printer) + bathroom led lights
Initial state: two BX (old metallic-sheathed cable) arrived at one outlet box on the second floor. They are sourced from a pair of 15 amp breakers tied together as an MWBC at the panel. Apparently, ...
1
vote
1
answer
416
views
Splitting Standard Outlet with 2 different hot wires (light switch and normal) and shared neutral into 2 double outlets
I am trying to hide some cables that power some Leds strips on my countertop and my living room lamp.
This is the countertop bar that separates my kitchen from the living room.
Currently, there is a ...
2
votes
1
answer
64
views
Refrigerator on its own circuit (non-AFCI) is triggering a separate AFCI circuit breaker
I have been dealing with a phantom AFCI breaker trigger for the better part of a year. The circuit controls bathroom fans and lights for part of my home. For the last year, at some random interval, ...
0
votes
2
answers
147
views
20 amp Circuit breaker GFCI and CAFCI
I'm confused on usage of these 2 breakers on a 20 amp circuit for outlets. All outlets are inside of house except kitchen and bathroom but few are located in a crawlspace also. Which one would be more ...
0
votes
1
answer
108
views
Which kitchenette breakers need to be AFCI?
I'm adding a kitchenette to my basement and am in WA state. My plan right now is to run one 20 amp circuit for the fridge, two 20 amp circuits with GFCI outlets above the counters, one 50 amp circuit ...
0
votes
3
answers
102
views
120v AFCI breakers tripping due to lost 240v leg in same panel
I had a weird electrical problem and found the fix, but I'd love to understand the mechanism by which this happened. Disclaimer: I'm not an electrician, buyer beware, etc.
The symptom I had was 3 ...
2
votes
2
answers
360
views
Radio transmitter nuisance tripping AFCIs
I've got a DC powered ham radio in a spare bedroom converted to an office, with a coax feedline running up to an antenna up in my attic near the ridge. About six months ago, I upgraded my feedline to ...
0
votes
1
answer
70
views
Dual function circuit tests OK, but breaker trips
I just powered up the (dual function, 20A Siemens) circuit for my new laundry room, which is on a new subpanel. The circuit tests fine with my trusty 3-prong, 3-light tester. But whenever I plug ...
1
vote
0
answers
138
views
When to NOT use an afci breaker
I'm heading a bunch of renovation done on an old house (1950), and part of the work is rewiring. New panel going in, new NM cable, etc. I should mention this is a pretty small house with no garage, ...
4
votes
2
answers
436
views
What are the versions of AFCI?
Leviton had an AFCI that said "AFCI 2.0" and one now says "AFCI 3.0". Any idea what the difference is?
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Old two-wire house-- AFCI or GFCI possible?
1940s era house with two-wire electrical. I'd like to install AFCI/GFCI throughout the house for fire-protection and for the third prong.
-> Kitchen and bathroom already have GFCI outlets.
-> ...
-1
votes
2
answers
153
views
Should we go for AFCI when we have Circuit breaker
I know circuit breaker trips the electric supply when there's overcurrent such as short circuit.
ARC Fault leads to overcurrent so IMO circuit breakers are enough and AFCI(Arc Fault Circuit ...
4
votes
2
answers
218
views
Power consumption of GFCI+CAFCI combo breaker (Siemens Q115DFN)
Has anyone measured the power consumption of this breaker or a similar one?
on the internet one can find horror stories of 1W+ for such breakers but no quantitative data. Data sheet does not mention ...
1
vote
1
answer
268
views
Is handle-tying two 15A CACFI/GFCI breakers for MWBC allowed?
I have an old MWBC and I'd like to protect the circuits with GFCI and CACFI (they are general purpose 15A circuits and include receptacles and lights). Note, currently they just have their own 15A ...
0
votes
2
answers
154
views
Arc fault protection for a 15A MWBC?
My 1993 home in WA state has a MWBC for the upstairs bedroom circuits, currently fed by a 2-pole 15A breaker (HOM215CP). This is probably no longer allowed for new constructions but it is what it is.
...
0
votes
1
answer
119
views
Receptacle arcing while AFCI breaker stays silent
A friend of mine had a receptacle on an outdoor circuit clearly arcing whenever he put a load (pressure washer) on a downstream receptacle of that circuit, to the point that you could visually see a ...
14
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Square D Homeline AFCI breakers trip for all appliances
I'm trying to install AFCI breakers on my kitchen SABCs (2x 20A circuits), in my Square D Homeline panel. Unfortunately, the breakers trip whenever I try to do anything useful on those circuits.
I've ...
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
AFCI required for fridge dedicated circuit?
My new Samsung fridge is currently on one of my kitchen's two 20A circuits, which I'm trying to bring up to code prior to inspection. This previously caused problems with GFCI on that circuit (see ...
0
votes
2
answers
705
views
What options for CAFCI AND GFCI on high-current 240V circuits?
I've been reading up on NEC 2023 - and possibly misunderstanding, and the 2023 doesn't apply to my area anyway (...yet). My current reading of 210.12 suggests that NO 240v circuits require AFCI: is ...
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
GFCI and AFCI for a MWBC used for Dishwasher + Garbage disposal
I've seen a few similar questions but each has a small difference that makes the answers there irrelevant for me.
Background
I just finished a kitchen remodel, including redoing much of the kitchen ...
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
AFCI Breakers & Panel Upgrades
We are having our electrical service upgraded (from 100A to 200A) to support EV charging and to allow the installation of solar panels. As part of the upgrade the panel is also being relocated to the ...
3
votes
1
answer
395
views
New AFCI/GFCI instantly trips when installed downstream from a GFCI - no obvious reasons
House is an older home from the 1890's, the wiring has all been replaced over the years, new panels, all that, but often decades apart so there are many generations of electrical all hooked together, ...
0
votes
1
answer
148
views
Is this a reasonable process for electrical troubleshooting and upgrade?
My dad lives in a home built in 1956 here in Maryland. The only upgrades to his electric has been having the fuse box converted to breakers back in the 90s.
He hit the light switch today and it ...
2
votes
3
answers
366
views
GFCI and AFCI outlet on circuit with refrigerator ....tripping after 6-8 hours after reset
Initially had a freezer and refrigerator freezer in garage on GFCI circuit, no problems for years. Then the freezer went out and the gfci circuit outlet was apparently damaged (and was 20 years old ...
5
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Does a laundry room circuit need GFCI protection?
I want to update the wiring in my laundry room but get confused about the requirements for this designated circuit. As I understand, Arc Fault protection breakers (AFCI) are now required for laundry ...
1
vote
1
answer
143
views
MWBC and double pole breaker amp allowance
i have 2 single pole 15 amp 120v circuit breakers with a shared neutral. i would like to replace the 2 single pole breakers with a 15 amp double pole afci breaker. will the double pole breaker protect ...
3
votes
1
answer
838
views
Testing outlet for grounding caused breaker to trip
I searched the forum and could not find something similar. Apologies if this has already been asked.
I was watching YouTube videos explaining how to test outlets and in the videos testing Hot to ...
2
votes
1
answer
760
views
Replacing breaker with GFCI/AFCI causes trip
As part of my basement finish, I need to replace a breaker with a AFCI.
This circuit currently services the new bedroom (outlets already there) and an outlet outside. One of the outlets is already ...
0
votes
4
answers
308
views
CAFCI breaker - found loose pigtail to neutral connection
I just had outlet added last week and breaker upgraded to CAFCI
The electrician forgot to place back the metering clamp for home automation on the circuit, so I went back and I was putting it back, I ...
2
votes
1
answer
230
views
What type of old cable is fed into this outlet, and what is the bare copper if the junction box doesn't seem to be grounded?
I have a groundless outlet that I'm attempting to add a ground to. The breaker that this circuit is tied to is a one pole AFCI, and it seems this is the only outlet on the circuit for the time being. (...
3
votes
2
answers
662
views
Multiwire Branch Outlet GFCI/AFCI breaker need but no product
I have a multiwire branch circuit (MWBC) connecting my dishwasher and disposal that connects to a Cutler-Hammer (using Eaton breakers) panel. After a renovation, an inspector told me I need the ...
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Klein RT210 GFCI tester not triggering AFCI breaker
My question is should a GGCI tester work on AFCI breaker?
Background:
I have a KLEIN RT210 tester with an Eaton AFCI breaker and when test a plug the lights tell me that it is wired correctly, however,...
0
votes
1
answer
472
views
Does a 1/2" GE-type Combo AFCI circuit breaker exist?
I've found 1" (THQL?) GE-type CAFCI breakers in stock, but can't find the GE-type CAFCI breakers in the slimmer 1/2" size (THQP?) for sale anywhere, not even out of stock listings. Do they ...
1
vote
1
answer
79
views
Question about AFCI breakers
I wanted to change my breakers to AFCI, but don’t know if it possible. I have 4 20 amp circuits running to my kitchen. The wiring is 12-3, but this is where it gets weird for a DIYer, like myself. One ...
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can I use AFCI/GFCI outdoors
I am getting ready to install a 20 amp breaker powering my outdoor lights, outlets, and some shed outlets.
I am most likely going to just have the breaker be a GFCI breaker to have the entire outdoor ...
1
vote
3
answers
4k
views
Which circuit breakers should I purchase: Standard, AFCI, GFCI, Dual Function (AFCI/GFCI)
I understand the need to have GFCI outlets in areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms, but when I was upgrading my electrical panel, I saw there are multiple options for circuit breakers.
The ...
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Dual Function AFCI/GFCI breakers trip under any load
This is a new subpanel in a workshop and the electrician told me because it's new all circuits have to be AFCI and because it's an outbuilding it should be GFCI too.
So, I purchased these breakers in ...
1
vote
1
answer
66
views
How do I check ground on incoming power
I have a unique problem, three dual function breakers trip at the same time with a ground fault indication. This mainly happens while asleep or if it happens during the day, I'm of course at work. ...