Understanding Arc Fault Breaker Tripping
AFCI breakers are designed to detect dangerous electrical arcing—sparking that occurs between damaged wires or loose screws—which is one of the leading causes of residential electrical fires.
However, AFCI breakers can also trip due to nuisance faults: faulty motor brushes in vacuum cleaners, shared neutral wires in multi-wire branch circuits, or failing surge strips. Our team uses specialized arc fault analyzers to isolate whether the issue is the breaker itself, the wiring in the wall, or an appliance.
How We Solve AFCI Issues:
- Circuit Megger Testing: We test conductor insulation resistance to pinpoint nicked wires behind drywall.
- Neutral Separation: Correcting improperly crossed or tied neutral wires inside junction boxes.
- Breaker Replacement: Upgrading older first-generation AFCI breakers with modern dual-function AFCI/GFCI breakers.