[sjpoolowner]

The circuit breaker for our kitchen lights suddenly started tripping.



It is a 15A circuit with the following lights:
- 6 LED recessed lights (7.6W each) with lutron caseta wireless dimmer

- 8 LED recessed lights (7.6W each) with lutron caseta wireless dimmer
- 4 LED exterior lights (10W each) with lutron caseta wireless switch
- 1 motion detecting flood light (36W) with a regular toggle switch


This evening we found that the lights were not turning on and the breaker was tripped. The switch for the motion detect light was already on, so I was curious if that caused the trip.



I tried different things and noticed the following:


- With the motion detect light switch on (the light itself was not on since it didn't detect any motion), if I reset the breaker, it trips in a couple of seconds.
- With all the switches off, if I reset the breaker, it stays on.

- With the breaker on, if I flip the motion detect light, the breaker trips in a couple of seconds.

- With the breaker on, if I turn on other lights, the breaker trips immediately.


It's a new construction that's completed 6 months ago. Everything has been working fine until this afternoon.



The breaker has a white "test" button. The test button trips the breaker ok.


Given the different timing I observed, can the motion detect light or switch be an issue here? Is it possible to know that it is a bad breaker or something else? Is there anything I could try before hiring an electrician?


Thanks in advance.

 

[roughneck]

Could be any of the lights.
I had the breaker for my daughters room start tripping suddenly. Turns out the socket to the ceiling light had a direct short to neutral.

 

[joed]

Sounds like a AFCI breaker. Could be a nail through the cable.

 

[rjniles]

We need to know if the breaker is tripping due to an overload or or an arc fault. Each manufacturer has a test proceedue to determine what type fault you have. What is the name of the breaker nanufacturer.?

Sent from my RCT6A03W13E using Tapatalk

 

[Wiredindallas]

I would try: 1. Put a regular breaker on the circuit to see if it is an overload or short in the wiring
2. Swap the breaker with another of the same type breaker to see if it is a bad breaker.

 

[sjpoolowner]

Thank you all for the replies.



The breaker looks like this one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-...c-Fault-Circuit-Breaker-HOM115CAFIC/202353305 Not sure if it is the exactly the same kind, though.


If the breaker trips instantly after flipping on one switch with a small number of LED lights connected, would that still indicate overload? I was told that the circuit is more than enough to have over 100 LEDs.

 

[123pugsy]

Thank you all for the replies.



The breaker looks like this one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-...c-Fault-Circuit-Breaker-HOM115CAFIC/202353305 Not sure if it is the exactly the same kind, though.


If the breaker trips instantly after flipping on one switch with a small number of LED lights connected, would that still indicate overload? I was told that the circuit is more than enough to have over 100 LEDs.

It's not an overload on such a quick trip.

 

[RAL238]

The breaker will tell you the reason it tripped. The instructions explain the procedure. If you don't have a copy, you can download them from the Home Depot page you linked to. See page 3.



Check the model number for the breaker in your panel and make sure it matches the directions. A lot of breakers look similar, but can have different procedures for getting the trip reason.