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Breakers randomly tripping

Posted on 12/21/23 at 5:20 pm
Posted by cassopher
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2010
706 posts
Posted on 12/21/23 at 5:20 pm
We moved into an 8 year old house in August and last week one of our breakers that powers our kitchen/living room randomly tripped twice. It is a 15 amp arc fault breaker and the only thing it’s powering is TV/soundbar, lights for the kitchen, and a few outlets that have cell chargers plugged into them.
Today the same breaker tripped and at the same time our daughter’s bedroom tripped. It is also a 15 amp arc fault breaker and the only things it has is TV and streaming device, cell charger, printer etc.

What would cause 2 different breakers to trip randomly?
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
25079 posts
Posted on 12/21/23 at 5:30 pm to
Breakers get old.

Maybe it’s that simple
Posted by GooseCreekMafia
Member since Jun 2017
707 posts
Posted on 12/21/23 at 6:34 pm to
I had an electrician friend tell me all new houses have to have the new arc fault breakers to pass inspection. He also said they suck and he replaces them with regular ones when they start tripping
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
20538 posts
Posted on 12/21/23 at 9:19 pm to
Yep probably bad breakers OP. Easy to replace. Easiest thing to do for free is swap the bad one with another one on your breaker panel, if it trips again…you know your issue.
Posted by PJinAtl
Atlanta
Member since Nov 2007
12761 posts
Posted on 12/22/23 at 6:56 am to
Our house was built in 2016 and per county code we have a ton of arc fault breakers. I think we have had three or four already replaced.

If they are EATON breakers they have a red LED that flashes a code of between 1 and 6 blinks. 6 is the code for failing the internal self test, which is what all of the ones we have had replaced have done.
Posted by Boudreaux35
BR
Member since Sep 2007
21598 posts
Posted on 12/22/23 at 10:34 am to
quote:

Breakers randomly tripping


quote:

arc fault breaker


That's your problem. Those go out quicker than others. You have to replace it.
Posted by MoarKilometers
Member since Apr 2015
18074 posts
Posted on 12/22/23 at 11:12 am to
quote:

What would cause 2 different breakers to trip randomly?

quote:

Today the same breaker tripped and at the same time our daughter’s bedroom tripped.

Have you considered 2 doing it at the same time might not actually be random?
Posted by bee Rye
New orleans
Member since Jan 2006
33964 posts
Posted on 12/22/23 at 6:56 pm to
Everyone wants to blame the breakers, buts it’s most likely something like shitty Chinese chargers or a frayed vacuum cord that is causing your breakers to trip correctly
Posted by LsuFan_1955
Slidell, La
Member since Jul 2013
1774 posts
Posted on 12/23/23 at 10:31 am to
Lose the arc fault breakers, they are crap. That will probably solve most of your problems.
Posted by Fraid Knot
Lafayette, LA
Member since Jul 2019
96 posts
Posted on 12/23/23 at 3:22 pm to
FWIW....Don't know what type of breakers you have but the Eaton CH arc fault / ground fault circuit breakers have a guarantee on them. Went thru this a few months back. They self test and trip if an error is found. If they don't pass the self check, they will not reset. Contacted them and they sent 2 breakers no charge.
Posted by num1lsufan
Meraux
Member since Feb 2004
1208 posts
Posted on 12/24/23 at 3:18 am to
Arc fault breakers will trip a lot with Christmas lights.
This post was edited on 12/24/23 at 3:22 am
Posted by bapple
Capital City
Member since Oct 2010
11914 posts
Posted on 12/25/23 at 9:31 am to
quote:

It is a 15 amp arc fault breaker


Like others have said and just like a GFCI outlet, these can become more sensitive over time and trip randomly. And in my personal experience, I’ve found GFCIs that trip continuously get more sensitive.

In my previous home (2003 build) it had 3 arc fault breakers, one per bedroom. My Dyson vacuum would trip one of them every 2nd or 3rd time I turned it on. And after dealing with that a few times it tripped every time I turned it on. Replaced the original breakers with Siemens arc fault replacements and they worked fine. If I had replaced with a standard breaker I probably wouldn’t have had an issue but just putting new breakers in for those old AFCI breakers solved the issue.

So in summary, I would replace the breakers first. If the problem persists with fresh breakers your problem is more complex.
Posted by Miketheseventh
Member since Dec 2017
5828 posts
Posted on 12/25/23 at 3:39 pm to
quote:

arc fault breaker

This is your problem. Arc fault breakers are required to pass code. I replace them with a regular breaker the first time it trips.
Posted by Skeeterzx190
Ponchatoula
Member since Sep 2019
192 posts
Posted on 12/25/23 at 7:38 pm to
I built my house 4 years ago. I needed arc fault breakers to pass inspection. THEY SUCK!!!!! They are very sensitive and seemed to trip for no reason. Over the past couple years I have changed out every breaker back to the old breaker. No issues. Gave my brother in law all my arc faults for his new house and inspection.
Posted by LSUDad
Still on the move
Member since May 2004
58878 posts
Posted on 12/30/23 at 1:48 am to
quote:

Today the same breaker tripped and at the same time our daughter’s bedroom tripped. It is also a 15 amp arc fault breaker and the only things it has is TV and streaming device, cell charger, printer etc.


Many times an Arc Fault will trip when a vacuum cleaner is used. The change in motor pull / amp change , will trip them. If you change out to regular breaker, keep the arc fault, you may be required to reinstall to sell your house.
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