[SCCC] AFCI suddenly tripping from 40 meter signal

[Bob Grubic]

Thanks, Marty. I've gotten a lot of help. I just have to sort out how to
best fix the problem.

There is also a lot on the web. Much of it concerns the Eaton circuit
breaker manufacturer. They have made one with the word HAM appended to the
part number--to fix the sensitivity problem. I have those made by Square
D.  So I'm working on that.

I came across this helpful article too.


http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Lab/Gruber.pdf


Thanks again.

73,
Bob NC6Q

On Mon, Aug 27, 2018 at 5:44 PM, Marty Woll <n6vi at socal.rr.com> wrote:

>
> Bob, have you read this?  It may help.
>
> http://www.arrl.org/gfci-and-afci-devices
>
> Marty N6VI
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SCCC [mailto:sccc-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bob Grubic
> Sent: Monday, August 27, 2018 3:47 PM
> To: Southern California Contest Club
> Subject: [SCCC] AFCI suddenly tripping from 40 meter signal
>
> Hi all,
>
> I've been in my condo for 13 years now and operate with 100 watts into wire
> dipoles in my attic. This past weekend--for the first time--a 15 amp Square
> D circuit breaker tripped from my 40 meter signal. No other bands do this.
>
> Doing some tests and searching online seem to show that it's the fault of
> the "arc fault circuit breaker" (AFCI) getting old.
>
> The internet has said some new ones were manufactured with the name HAM on
> them to indicate they would not falsely trip in the presence of an rf
> signal (ham radio), and that other newer ones have been made to correct
> this false tripping. Mine is 13 years old now.
>
> Another suggestion online says to put in a standard circuit breaker and
> take out the AFCI. I'd rather not do that. I'd rather put in a "corrected"
> AFCI--or maybe just a newer, "younger" one.
>
> Since Abraham Lincoln once said "you can't believe everything you read on
> the internet," I'd appreciate any comment or suggestions from this august
> group. I'll bet somebody knows something!
>
> I'd like to keep contesting on 40 meters--even with my attic dipoles. (Even
> a bad antenna works better than no antenna.)
>
> Thanks very much.
>
> 73,
> Bob NC6Q
> (in Signal Hill, CA, wouldn't you know!)
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