tripping breaker

[mrtom]

just seen this Siemens guide to troubleshooting afci's, maybe it can help you as it did mention some tv's causing the tripping.

http://www.bcd.oregon.gov/boards/electelv/board_pack/2011/20110526/JohnPowell.pdf

 

[Little Bill]

Checked 3 way switches for shared neutrals, checked connections at breaker, pulled receptacles, amp

First thing I did was check the connections at the panel, then checked all the 3 ways for shared neutral.

You mentioned this at least twice in this thread, "checked 3-way switches for shared neutrals". I agree a shared neutral won't allow an AFCI breaker (if it contains GFCI protection that most do) to stay latched when there is a load.

But what in the world would a 3-way switch have to do with a shared neutral? It is the same circuit. You're just feeding through the switch. I suppose someone could grab a neutral from another circuit at the light and the hot from a different circuit at the switch but I wouldn't even consider checking a 3-way switch for a tripping AFCI problem.

Also, what did you find with the flickering fluorescent lights that caused the tripping? And how did you determine that?

 

[cadpoint]

What do you mean by AC grill? What would I be touching leads to? Do you mean in the air handler?

Run a good extension cord with a ground and measure for voltage of the structural parts of A/C grill, IE the/a metal grill or even the screw that holds it thats around the TV. OFF the GROUND to metal...

 

[growler]

This circuit is general lighting for a living room, plugs and 1 fan/light, plus 1 dining room light and 1 kitchen fluorescent light. When she called to say it tripped again she told me no vacuum or anything plugged in, just fan/light and dine light.

Turns out flickering fluorescent lamps can trip arc faults!

Was the fluorescent light the problem?

 

[1793]

Turns out flickering fluorescent lamps can trip arc faults!

So, was this your problem?

Was the fluorescent light the problem?

Inquiring minds want to know......

 

[Little Bill]

Inquiring minds want to know......

I still haven't found out what a 3-way switch has to do with a shared neutral!:?

 

[ActionDave]

I still haven't found out what a 3-way switch has to do with a shared neutral!:?

I wonder if OP was talking about a bootleg neutral.

 

[GoldDigger]

You mean a neutral that comes in the third way?

Tapatalk!

 

[Little Bill]

I wonder if OP was talking about a bootleg neutral.

But the 3-way switches don't use a neutral. Only neutral would just be in the box if it's even wired that way. That could also be the case with just a SP switch.
IDK what the OP meant, to be honest.

 

[ActionDave]

But the 3-way switches don't use a neutral. Only neutral would just be in the box if it's even wired that way. That could also be the case with just a SP switch.
IDK what the OP meant, to be honest.

If you are not using a dead end three way then you need a noodle at each switch box. One from another circuit it will work if you are a hack.

 

[GoldDigger]

But if you actually use that neutral for a three wire device (or two) that collectively draw more than 6ma, you can have GFCI problems.

Tapatalk!

 

[Little Bill]

If you are not using a dead end three way then you need a noodle at each switch box. One from another circuit it will work if you are a hack.

I said if it was even wired that way. If it was wired pre 2011, the neutral wasn't required in the box.

But if you actually use that neutral for a three wire device (or two) that collectively draw more than 6ma, you can have GFCI problems.



Tapatalk!

I said as much in a previous post.

 

[jaylectricity]

I think in reference to the 3W neutral sharing, sometimes you have a 3w switch from one circuit landing in a box that has 2-3 switches for another area. Let's say the 3W switch is for the kitchen and includes the load conductors for the kitchen lights, and the other switches in the box are for the living room. Maybe the living room lights are on their own circuit, maybe included with the living room receptacles where this TV is plugged in.

In a moment of weakness, or ignorance, somebody might just tie all the whites together.

Current will follow all paths, so some of the lighting/TV load would be leaking out on the kitchen's neutral.

Having said all that (and patting myself on the back), it's most likely that this has happened before to OP and it's his first go-to on troubleshooting this kind of problem.

 

[Little Bill]

I think in reference to the 3W neutral sharing, sometimes you have a 3w switch from one circuit landing in a box that has 2-3 switches for another area. Let's say the 3W switch is for the kitchen and includes the load conductors for the kitchen lights, and the other switches in the box are for the living room. Maybe the living room lights are on their own circuit, maybe included with the living room receptacles where this TV is plugged in.

In a moment of weakness, or ignorance, somebody might just tie all the whites together.

Current will follow all paths, so some of the lighting/TV load would be leaking out on the kitchen's neutral.

Having said all that (and patting myself on the back), it's most likely that this has happened before to OP and it's his first go-to on troubleshooting this kind of problem.

I'm not going to pursue this any further unless the OP chimes back in as everything is just a guess.

All what you said could be true, but why (OP) single out 3-way switches? The same thing could happen with a single pole switch. Just wanted to hear his logic in specifically calling out a 3-way.

 

[jaylectricity]

Guessing is what makes this site fun!