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In Reply to: RE: Tamper resistant audio grade outlet? posted by jea48 on March 27, 2014 at 21:03:32
Yes, there are AFCI breakers installed in the new panel
as per code. The electrician said he doesn't like to install them because of complaints that they trip frequently. However they are required.
Follow Ups:
I've kept hearing about nuisance tripping of AFCI breakers over the years. I have been using AFCI breakers since the grace period before the NEC mandatory requirement. I've updated the first and second-generation AFCI breakers with current combination types, and to date have never experienced a single nuisance trip.
Hi Glen,Check this out......
Quote from link below.
Post #51.
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Denver Colorado
Posts: 13 Original Poster--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O.P. here with an up-date. Since my post, GE engineers have flown out to Denver to meet with us and a few other electrical contractors, to see first hand the problems we were having. I personaly took them to home owner houses and brand new spec homes.
I'll spare all the details, ( except this one,) we went into a new spec home so they could run some tests, They go to plug their high tec computer that will read all the sign waves and what not (again I'm not an electrical engineer) any way, their test equipment trips the breaker! They can't use it. We have to take the circuit off arc-fault so they can get a reading.Basically their side of the story is they have to make a product that meets UL requirments. They have done so. And so has Square D and all the others. Problem is, those requirments are not nessecarily compatible with all the hundreds if not thousands of appliance products out on the market!
As far as new flat screen TVs, computers, phone chargers, humidifiers, etc. etc. GE suggests the use of noise reducing fillters that fillter EMI and RFI signals. FYI since I have been telling this to about 10 or more home owners I have not heard back from any of them so I'm assumeing this works.
However other appliances, vacuums, various motors can/will trip arc faults even with the RFI/EMI fillters.My boss is on the phone every day with Square D and GE about this, We spend hours dealing with warranty calls. Both manufacturers tell us they have "new and improved " breakers in production and should be on the shelves soon. We mainly deal with these two manufacturers but I know the others are having problems as well.
Until then I guess we keep dealing with pissed-off home owners, and try to explian the problem by pointing our fingers to their brand-new TV and the breakers in their brand-new house. Yeah that will put them at ease>
However like I said in alot of these cases the RFI/EMI fillters seem to be working. I have yet to see it in person, but I haven't heard back from any of the people I've told this to... FYI they range in price $7 to $75 they come in power strips or plug blocks at any hardware store. But people have to read the specs. Just buying any power strip/surge protecter doesn't automaticaly mean it has RFI/EMI filter capability.
Well I'm off to do a service call,
Later.
> > > > >
Jim
Edits: 03/28/14
The electrician said he doesn't like to install them because of complaints that they trip frequently.
Manufactures have worked a lot of the nuisance tripping bugs out of their AFCI breakers. Some Light Dimmers that are connected to AFCI breakers where the total connected load on the breaker is near 1000 watts or more may cause some AFCI breakers to trip randomly on occasion. Some Lutron Dimmers with as little as 600 watts total connected load on the branch circuit could cause nuisance tripping of an AFCI breaker.I have read where plasma TVs were causing nuisance tripping of an AFCI breaker.
I have read where a portable vacuum cleaner would trip the breaker.
What panel manufacture, style, series, did the electrician install?
(Look on the inside of the panel cover hinged door. Also look at the writing on the face of the breakers.)I have a Square D QO panel with QO AFCI breakers and have never had an AFCI breaker trip for no apparent reason.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS413US413&q=Lutron+dimmer+causing+nuisance+tripping+on+AFCI+breaker
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS413US413&q=Plasma+TV+causing+nuisance+tripping+on+AFCI+breaker
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=&oq=afci+circuit+breaker&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS413US413&q=afci+circuit+breaker+troubleshooting&gs_l=hp..2.0l5.0.0.1.237974...........0.1gXPOmqqv_g
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS413US413&q=Problem+with+nuisance+tripping+on+AFCI+breaker
Edits: 03/28/14 03/28/14
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