- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Score Board
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- SEC Score Board
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Electrical help - arc fault circuit interrupting breaker doesn’t always want to reset.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 7:00 pm
Posted on 11/20/25 at 7:00 pm
I have this breaker: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Square-D-Homeline-20-Amp-1-Pole-Combination-Arc-Fault-Circuit-Breaker/3364904
Cleco has had some random power outages in the past few months and multiple breakers have tripped. This one doesn’t seem to want to reset immediately. The house is 4 years old. We’ve got quite a few things running on that circuit, but have never had an issue with it tripping due to an overload, just during a fair weather power outage. I have 3 Sonos amps running on this circuit. Even though they’re not playing any music, unplugging one seems to allow the breaker to be reset.
My question is, is it possible that I’ve just got too much running on this circuit to reset the breaker? Or is the breaker possibly wearing out and acting up?
Cleco has had some random power outages in the past few months and multiple breakers have tripped. This one doesn’t seem to want to reset immediately. The house is 4 years old. We’ve got quite a few things running on that circuit, but have never had an issue with it tripping due to an overload, just during a fair weather power outage. I have 3 Sonos amps running on this circuit. Even though they’re not playing any music, unplugging one seems to allow the breaker to be reset.
My question is, is it possible that I’ve just got too much running on this circuit to reset the breaker? Or is the breaker possibly wearing out and acting up?
7
Posted on 11/20/25 at 8:47 pm to Theduckhunter
Sounds like you are at or near peak amperage allowance.
It's like a sub par breaker. If you have the same breakers in the same panel, and aren't experiencing any issues, then you probably need to swap it out.
Sounds like you have load tested it. If you don't want to pay for a new one, try swapping another arc fault breaker in the panel. If it results in the same issues, then the load is the problem.
It's like a sub par breaker. If you have the same breakers in the same panel, and aren't experiencing any issues, then you probably need to swap it out.
Sounds like you have load tested it. If you don't want to pay for a new one, try swapping another arc fault breaker in the panel. If it results in the same issues, then the load is the problem.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 9:05 pm to Theduckhunter
If you have any cheap TEMU electronics or cell phone charger "blocks" start with removing those first.
I'm a RE agent and sit alot of home inspections. When we have problems testing those breakers its almost always one of those two things on newer homes.
Good luck!
I'm a RE agent and sit alot of home inspections. When we have problems testing those breakers its almost always one of those two things on newer homes.
Good luck!
Posted on 11/20/25 at 9:29 pm to Theduckhunter
Roughly calculate your amp load. If it’s less than 80% of the breaker rating, replace the breaker. GF/AF breakers seem to go bad often. Especially with power surges.
This post was edited on 11/20/25 at 9:31 pm
Posted on 11/21/25 at 3:30 am to Theduckhunter
Much more likely it's a breaker going bad than an overloading issue. Afci and GFCI have a lot more going on inside them than standard breakers and thus more to fail.
Some devices will trip an afci even though the breaker may otherwise function fine. I. E. I can't run a particular vacuum on my bedroom circuit or it will trip the afci. Everything else in bedroom doesn't give it problems. Afci are finicky.
Some devices will trip an afci even though the breaker may otherwise function fine. I. E. I can't run a particular vacuum on my bedroom circuit or it will trip the afci. Everything else in bedroom doesn't give it problems. Afci are finicky.
Posted on 11/21/25 at 9:19 am to Turnblad85
AFCI's also trip due to shared neutrals which is probably the most common form of nuisance tripping with them. Unfortunately there aren't many good options to test/narrow down that issue unless you are lucky enough to own certain circuit testing tools. Bootleg grounds are also an issue for nuisance tripping AFCI's but not as common as they used to be.
This post was edited on 11/21/25 at 9:20 am
Posted on 11/21/25 at 12:29 pm to Theduckhunter
I have found breakers and GFCI outlets to be crap, nowadays. Personally, I would buy and replace the breaker. If it is still acting up, put the old one back in and call an electrician.
ETA: Are you killing any ducks?!
ETA: Are you killing any ducks?!
This post was edited on 11/21/25 at 12:31 pm
Posted on 11/21/25 at 12:34 pm to Spankum
quote:
ETA: Are you killing any ducks?!
I’ve had to work but they have killed quite a bit of teal at the lease south of Houma.
Thanks to everyone who replied, I appreciate it!
This post was edited on 11/21/25 at 12:36 pm
Posted on 11/25/25 at 8:58 am to Spankum
This is the answer. Get rid of that shitty/finnicky breaker and put in a standard breaker and 90% chance everything will work like it should after that. If not, call an electrician.
Posted on 11/25/25 at 2:19 pm to Theduckhunter
my thread from a few years ago chasing this problem.
Go buy a new arc fault breaker and change it out. See if the problem persists.
If it does start removing items from the system until you find it.
Go buy a new arc fault breaker and change it out. See if the problem persists.
If it does start removing items from the system until you find it.
This post was edited on 11/25/25 at 2:32 pm
Posted on 11/25/25 at 3:58 pm to Theduckhunter
frick arc fault breakers. Now that the NEC requires AFCI/GFCI and AFCI breakers almost everywhere, the cost for breakers in a new build or renovation (permitted) has gone up ten times. Just finished a big reno, and I’ve had to replace at least ten or twelve of those frickers because of nuisance tripping. Spent $4k+ on breakers. frick those bastards.
This post was edited on 11/25/25 at 3:59 pm
Posted on 11/28/25 at 10:17 am to LuckySo-n-So
quote:
Spent $4k+ on breakers
Holy shite…I never thought about this!
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News