I recently installed a bunch of receptacles in my attic. They are in a dedicated circuit controlled by an Arc Fault breaker in the service panel. I tested every single outlet with a receptacle circuit analyzer and it shows they are all installed correctly. But whenever I plug in a lamp or a fan, the moment I turn it on the breaker trips. Bad breaker? Help please..
2006-09-26 04:26:10 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Note it's an AFCI, not GFCI, if it makes a difference...
2006-09-26 04:42:40 · update #1
An AFCI (and a GFCI) will trip immediately when a load is applied if it is wired wrong. My guess is the neutral for your circuit isn't connected to the neutral on the breaker.
2006-09-26 07:17:56 · answer #1 · answered by An electrical engineer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AFCI breakers are plain out MEAN, I have found that most AFCI breakers will trip because of a neutral problem, either being loose or not correctly hooked up, On the AFCI breaker there is a Pigtail (white wire lead) that gets hooked up to the Neutral bar in your service panel NOT the Ground bar if you have a 4 wire service, I have seen to many people hook it to the ground bar, if you have a 3 wire service then the neutrals and grounds go to the same bar, the neutral from the circuit you ran(circuit for the outlets) will hook to the AFCI breaker(along with the Hot lead commonly black), in most cases take all the receptacles back out, DO NOT take them off the wiring, make sure no grounds or neutrals are touching turn the circuit back on and plug something in(to test the circuit) if it holds you had something touching, if it doesn't, you may have a pinched wire in the wall, I have also seen the wiring stapled to tightly and causes the AFCI to trip as well.
2006-09-26 09:09:33 · answer #2 · answered by Ray D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
AFCI and GFCI are 2 completly different things.
AFs protect against arcs and are new to the world of electricians,,,,they are required in bedrooms.
GFCI outlets/circuits are for ground faults and required in damp or wet locations like kitchens, baths, outdoors with outlet covers, and garages.
As i said, these AFCI things are new to me and ive been doing this for 3 years now...sorry but i cant help you out.
call an electrician in to take a look at it.
2006-09-26 05:56:48 · answer #3 · answered by D S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what is the reason that you have them connected to the gfci? if they are in your attic, there isnt much obvious reason for that.. why dont you put in a regular circuit breaker?
2006-09-26 04:35:55 · answer #4 · answered by lugar t axhandle 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋