Bad Eaton AFCI Breaker

[Chris Skoczylas]

Twice in the past month I have pushed a test button on an Eaton AFCI breaker in the electrical panel and the breaker started smoking and sparking and did not trip. Has anyone else run in to this?
The outlets in the bedroom still work after this happens.

[Tom Rees]

Chris, You might try this site: Eaton Afci problems Problems & Solutions - FixYa (http://www.fixya.com/tags/afci_problems/browse/eaton)
Was there any low voltage Lightolier lighting in house?

[Mbrooke]

I would recommend reporting it to Eaton corp. It could be a defect that is showing up only now.

How is the condition of the service neutral and line voltage variation in that panel?

[Speedy Petey]

PLEASE do report it to Eaton/CH.

I still HATE AFCI breakers, and sh*t like this gets blamed on us all the time. You can just imagine what the customer is thinking: "What kind of crap did you install in my home??"
"I'm sorry ma'am, that crap is supposed to protect you."

[Craig Olsson]

I would recommend reporting it to Eaton corp. It could be a defect that is showing up only now.

How is the condition of the service neutral and line voltage variation in that panel?

How should a home inspector observe "line voltage variation"? Over what period should the variation be observed? I know of voltage spikes and transient voltage due to system wide load variations and other factors, yet I have thought that residential service and electrical equipment is designed to handle voltage excursions. I am going to guess that measuring transient voltage, voltage spikes and variation is beyond the expertise of even the most experienced home inspectors. It is certainly beyond any inspection standard of practice I know of.

[Matt Fellman]

We just did a group of 15 houses all in the same neighberhood built about 5-6 years ago. The number of faulty AFCI breakers was amazing. And aside from the ones that just didn't test properly, the tenants of the houses reported numerous false tripping events. The brand was Siemens I believe.

[Mbrooke]

How should a home inspector observe "line voltage variation"? Over what period should the variation be observed? I know of voltage spikes and transient voltage due to system wide load variations and other factors, yet I have thought that residential service and electrical equipment is designed to handle voltage excursions. I am going to guess that measuring transient voltage, voltage spikes and variation is beyond the expertise of even the most experienced home inspectors. It is certainly beyond any inspection standard of practice I know of.


If you have a VOM take a quick reading of the incoming lugs to rule out a sustained over voltage condition or a constant open neutral. Of course intermittent problems wont be detected, but its one more thing to rule out.


AFCI breakers do not tolerate voltage transients well from what manufacturer reps have told me.