[vettegc]

I have a big 21 light chandelier that is 20 ft in the air.

A few weeks ago the breaker tripped and it could not be flipped back on. After some troubleshooting we determined that it was grounded somewhere in the light fixture and not the walls like I feared it might be. In fact, the wire that supports it was wrapped really tightly against the electrical chord. It made some dents in the electrical wire but I did not see where the chord was broken anywhere. After untangling the wires, to my surprise it started working!

So I took down and returned the scaffolding. Well now it is tripping but only after about 5-10 minutes. What would cause it to do this over time? Can I replace the Arc fault breaker with a regular breaker (note that didn't work the 1st time when it was tripped all the time)?

 

[Oso954]

My first guess is that the "electrical cord" was damaged to the extent that it should have been replaced.

It is probably still leaking current to ground but at a lower rate than it was. The lower rate takes longer to trip than it did earlier.

Do you have indicator LEDs on your arc fault breaker ? By reading the LEDs when you restore power, you can tell the difference between an AFCI trip and an over current trip.

If you replace anything, I would start with the fixture wire that was damaged.

 

[Jim Port]

It would help to know the load on the circuit. An amp meter would be needed.

 

[dmxtothemax]

Is it a standard breaker ?
Is it a GFCI ?
Is it a AFCI ?

what size are the individual light bulbs ?

:vs_worry:

 

[AandPDan]

The fixture is the problem, not the breaker.

 

[dmxtothemax]

The fixture is the problem, not the breaker.

well then you gotta get up there
and find out which of the 21 wires
is causing the problem ?
No easy way out !

 

[FrodoOne]

The fixture is the problem, not the breaker.

Which is true.

Fix the problem - in the wiring to and/or within the "Chandelier".

Assuming that the mass of the chandelier does not exceed 5 kg (11 pounds), you could investigate the installation of a plug-in "maestro ceiling rose" (you can look it up) to make the job of putting this item up and taking it down each time much easier.

 

[WyrTwister]

How old is the light fixture ? Do not forget the possibility that one of the lamp sockets is defective .

You checked the wiring in the ceiling box ?

God bless
Wyr

 

[vettegc]

Ok I am going to try to answer all the questions. I think I am resigned to the fact that it will have to be taken down and re-wired though.

The Chandelier is only about 1 year old. It is also very big and probably at least 50 lbs.

If it was a light socket I do not think it would have started working when I loosened the wires. Before this the breaker could not even be turned on.

It is on a AFCI breaker.

Yes I checked the wiring box 1st. Looked fine.

It has twenty-one 40 watt bulbs in it.

 

[WyrTwister]

Just for grins , I would remove all the lamps and visually inspect all the sockets .

With the lamps removed , turn the circuit breaker and switch on & see if the CB trips ?

Do you have a clamp on amp meter . I would also test the amperage at the CB . This might be something to tell me if it is tripping on overload or the arc fault function .

I try to stay as far away from residential work as I can , except for at my house . Therefore , I am far from an expert on AFCI CB's .

Good luck & stay safe .

God bless
Wyr

 

[dmxtothemax]

It has twenty-one 40 watt bulbs in it.

Thats a decent load !
21 x 40 = 840W @ 120v = 7A.
Are you sure that the circuit can handle that ?
What else is on that circuit ?
What size is the breaker ?
Added some else to that circuit recently ?

 

[WyrTwister]

Measure the load at the circuit breaker and then you know .

God bless
Wyr

 

[vettegc]

Thats a decent load !
21 x 40 = 840W @ 120v = 7A.
Are you sure that the circuit can handle that ?
What else is on that circuit ?
What size is the breaker ?
Added some else to that circuit recently ?

It is on a 20 amp breaker. There are 2 fans/lights and 4 led recessed lights also on the breaker but they do not seem to be a factor. The chandelier trips whether the others are on or off.

 

[WyrTwister]

Re-wire the chandelier or replace it . Or do without .

Stop beating a dead horse .

God bless
Wyr

 

[dmxtothemax]

Let us all know how you go ?

 

[vettegc]

I'm so confused...

Last night turned the fan on and the breaker tripped? After resetting the breaker, I decided to turn the recessed lights on and the breaker tripped again.

I was still thinking it is something to do with the chandelier. But I turned the chandelier on and it never tripped. I waited over an hour.

 

[WyrTwister]

As , I said , measure the amperage at the circuit breaker .

Is the circuit breaker Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter ?

God bless
Wyr

 

[Arrow3030]

There are many reasons why an arc fault will trip. That's why someone asked earlier if you have a trip indicator on the breaker. If the breaker is tripping immediately after a switch is flipped it probably isn't because of overload. Have you changed any wiring or devices in the house before the problem started?