ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Arch fault tripping?

I can relate to your problems with the AFCI. I had an AFCI that was installed in new construction that would trip as soon as any load was applied on the circuit. I immediately started thinking through the possibilities of Hot to neutral arcing or even neutral to ground connection, but thankfully before I started taking everything apart, I checked the panel and found that I had connected the wrong neutral wire to the AFCI breaker. Thus whenever a load was applied, the breaker was sensing a ground fault since there was no equal current returning on the neutral wire. Needless to say, I was humbled and was reminded that sometimes it is the simple things.

P.S. Please forgive me for saying neutral instead of ungrounded conductor

I'm with Al on this. It sounds like you are connecting your load neutral to the neutral buss instead of the breaker. It must be connected to the breaker!

Curt

Yes the the neutral went to breaker I read the post I did write it wrong..Sorry It was in fact a bad breaker and the local supply gave me no trouble in replacement.But I did waste several hours.and dollars.Thanks I guess it would pay to proof read.Thanks again.Wander how many will be late for work when storm causes the afci`s to trip?and the clock don`t work....just a thought.

Another selling point for battery back-up alarm clocks.