2. amps-preamps
  3. 193049-343

Nuisance tripping of AFCI circuit breaker by inrush of current when turning on amplifiers

I recently added an Accuphase power supply for my Accuphase mono blocks.  When I turn on the second mono block it trips the AFCI circuit breaker.  I had no trouble using the mono blocks with a Puritan Audio PSM 156 power conditioner, but it is passive.  The Accuphase PS-1250 is power regenerator with a huge toroidal transformer and a large mechanical on/off switch.  I imagine either the inrush of current from the PS-1250 + 2 mono blocks is too much for the AFCI breaker or their mechanical switches are creating arcs their algorithms do not recognize as normal.

I have a 10 year old Siemens 15 amp AFCI breaker, and my question is what best to replace it with?  I have read that AFCI breakers have improved considerably with less nuisance tripping, and the first step would be to use a current model as a replacement.  But is there a better solution?

Square D makes 'High Magnetic' AFCI breakers that are less prone to nuisance tripping, but I don't know if they would even fit in my panel.  I'm not sure if Siemens makes a similar product.

An electrician coming over at the end of the week, but I thought I would ask here as this must be an issue many audio hobbyists have encountered with AFCI breakers.

toronto416

Showing 4 responses by immatthewj

immatthewj
2,887 posts
 

 Hopefully a new breaker will do the trick - 20 amp vs. 15 amp.

I may have missed it if you mentioned it because my eyesight is bad and getting worse every day, but I assume that the circuit is wired with at least 12 gauge if not larger?  If not, you would not want to use a 20A breaker.  I was only checking because I was thinking that this may have been the reason you currently have a 15A breaker in there now.

Square D makes 'High Magnetic' AFCI breakers that are less prone to nuisance tripping, but I don't know if they would even fit in my panel.  I'm not sure if Siemens makes a similar product.

As far as this goes, I am not an electrician, but it has always been my understanding that using a breaker that is not the same brand as your panel can cause a homeowner's insurance company not to pay out in event of a fire.

 

immatthewj
2,887 posts
 

Since you said you were having an electrician come to look things over, you could ask him what he'd charge to put a separate  circuit (or circuits) using 12 or 10 gauge wire in where you want your system to live (assuming you don't want to do it yourself).  .   

immatthewj
2,887 posts
 

It's not that bad a job, but for me it was time consuming both times I did it, and the second time I dropped some new circuits down to a new location (a couple of years ago) I had learned a lot more than the first time I did it about 30 years ago, so I went back to those original circuits I dropped in to tidy some stuff up, and some of the stuff I had done looked almost scary to me the second time around.  So anyway, I don't think it would be cheap to get an electrician to drop a new circuit in, but the benefit your system might derive from it's own dedicated circuit(s) might be worth it to you.

Anyway, what I meant to say but I forgot, was that I am pretty sure that putting a 20A breaker on a circuit made of wire smaller than 12 gauge would be another  reason that a homeowners company could use to void your policy in the event of a catastrophe.  

immatthewj
2,887 posts
 

Good to read, @toronto416 !  Time to rock out!

(And since you have 12 gauge wire, if you want to, you can put in a 20A breaker.)

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