Possible Causes of Simultaneous AFCI Breaker Tripping



Power Quality Issue

Voltage fluctuations or spikes Electrical noise (radio frequency interference) Lightning strikes

Loose or Faulty Connections

In the electrical system or appliances Between the breaker and panelboard

Faulty Appliances or Electronics

Devices with electromagnetic interference (EMI) Overloaded circuits

AFCI Breaker Miscalibration

Breakers can be sensitive to certain types of electrical noise

Articles and Literature



Schneider Electric White Paper: Understanding the Importance of Power Quality in AFCI Applications

https://www.se.com/ww/en/download/document/PCS-IT-005502/

Eaton Electrical: Solving Mystery Tripping in AFCI and GFCI Circuit Breakers

https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/support/product-support/technical-support-library/white-papers/technical-papers/solving-mystery-tripping-in-afci-and-gfci-circuit-breakers.html

IEEE Standard 1100-2019: Recommended Practice for Powering and Grounding Electronic Equipment

https://standards.ieee.org/standard/1100-2019.html

National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 210.15

https://www.nfpa.org/NEC/About-the-NEC/Articles/2017/01/NEC-Article-210-Branch-Circuits

Home Electrical Inspections: Interpreting AFCI and GFCI Breaker Trips

https://www.homeinspectorsecrets.com/electrical-breaker-tripped-not-over/

Recommendations: Contact the utility company to investigate the power quality issue. Inspect the electrical connections in the affected homes, including the breaker panels and appliances. Replace any faulty appliances or electronics.* Ensure that AFCI breakers are calibrated correctly and are not experiencing interference from nearby devices. Flag for review