[tenebrousabyss]

I'm on the verge of going totally bonkers. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months and I still cannot understand why this is happening nor can I prevent it.

I live in a house that was built within the last 10 years. As mandated by federal law, it has AFCI aka Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter breaker system. It's rated for 15 amps on every wall outlet circuit.

My computer will run just fine when not doing anything graphically intensive. When either I try to play a game or do GPU rendering for the filmmaking that I do, it will trip the breaker without fault either immediately or within 15 minutes. Initially I went around this by using EVGA Precision to lower the "power target" on my GPU. That seemed to work but as time went on, I had to lower the power target more and more. Now if I boot up Black Ops 3 or Red Orchestra 2 or anything really, the breaker will trip within a few seconds.

I've done a lot of research and after contacting several electricians, they recommended I purchase an Isolating Transformer to cut down on the line noise that is causing all the "nuisance trips" in the AFCI breaker. Today I got myself a Topaz Line2 1000W/8.3A power conditioner to see if that would help. Unfortunately it seems to not have the mettle necessary to even power my monitor, as both my monitor and PC run momentarily under its power before the device resets.

I had built the PC only a few months prior to moving here and there we no issues before. Everything is no more than 7 months old. The PSU and GPU are brand-new. I thought replacing them would stop the breaker trips, I was wrong. I am convinced there is nothing wrong with my hardware as it works flawlessly away from home.

Now I am at an impasse: either sink more money (well over $250) into a more modern Isolation Transformer in hopes that it will be able to power my PC under full load, or effing move because I am AT MY WITS END RIGHT NOW. This has caused a considerable amount of problems in both my studies and my gaming. I am desperate for a solution. PLEASE help me.

MY SYSTEM:
Corsair CX-750M PSU
EVGA GTX 970 FTW
12 GB DDR3 RAM, mixed PNY and Patriot in dual-channel
Asrock Z97 Killer mobo
i7-4790k @ stock clocks
PNY 120GB SSD
NZXT S340 Case
LG 1440p 21:9 monitor

 

[Jump-start]

Change the breaker for a newer version of the same brand as your existing panel. Being 10 years with old versions notorious for nuisance tripping a 2016 model might easily solve your problem.

 

[tenebrousabyss]

That's a great idea, however I do not own the house and I cannot guarantee I'll be able to convince the landlord to let me mess around with the breakers.

If it was up to me I'd have removed that SOB and replaced it with non-AFCI breaker that doesn't trip whenever my big, mean PC hurts its precious fee-fees.

 

[Luke M]

Have you tried plugging in some other heavy load, e.g. hair dryer, into the outlet? There's a chance the problem has nothing to do with the PC.

 

[tenebrousabyss]

Have you tried plugging in some other heavy load, e.g. hair dryer, into the outlet? There's a chance the problem has nothing to do with the PC.

No, I haven't. That's a good idea. I'll have to find a bunch of stuff that runs sub-15A and see if it will trip.

What sorts of things are "heavy load?" Guitar amplifiers? Air compressors? Heat guns?

 

[dmxtothemax]

I would be trying a proper isolation transformer,
Not a line conditioner,
They are different.

 

[tenebrousabyss]

I would be trying a proper isolation transformer,
Not a line conditioner,
They are different.

I was recommended the Topaz Line2 but I suppose you are correct. It's not exactly what I was looking for.

 

[brric]

A. Where do you live?
B. Are you sure the circuit is not overloaded?
C. There is NO Federal mandate for AFCI breakers. Indiana, for one, has exempted them.

 

[jbfan]

I would try another circuit.
If the problem follows, then it is the computer.
If not, then it is the circuit.

 

[Pharon]

My recommendation would be to purchase a double conversion UPS, which will serve two functions -- (1) keep your computer running if the breaker trips again, and (2) isolate your line side from computer spikes that are currently possibly causing your AFCI to trip in the first place.

 

[jreagan]

Maybe a UPC like CyberPower or others? That should give you some isolation and conditioning.

I use one of these: https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/ups/desktop/cp1500pfclcd

 

[tenebrousabyss]

A. Where do you live?
B. Are you sure the circuit is not overloaded?
C. There is NO Federal mandate for AFCI breakers. Indiana, for one, has exempted them.

A) California
B) Yes
C) Wikipedia lied to me lol

 

[tenebrousabyss]

My recommendation would be to purchase a double conversion UPS, which will serve two functions -- (1) keep your computer running if the breaker trips again, and (2) isolate your line side from computer spikes that are currently possibly causing your AFCI to trip in the first place.

Do you have any models you can suggest for about $200?

 

[Jim Port]

How do you know the circuit is not overloaded? What is the amp draw on the circuit?

 

[Pharon]

Do you have any models you can suggest for about $200?

No. Double conversion UPS's are typically more expensive than line interactive or standby UPS's. But there's a good reason for that.

 

[tenebrousabyss]

No. Double conversion UPS's are typically more expensive than line interactive or standby UPS's. But there's a good reason for that.

Okay, that's fine. I'll see if I can squeeze a few bux out of the hookers n' blow fund. Thanks.

 

[gregzoll]

No. Double conversion UPS's are typically more expensive than line interactive or standby UPS's. But there's a good reason for that.

Not really. I have a Tripplite and a APC that I got brand new for under $200. I use the Tripplite for my A/V equipment and the APC for my network equipment. I have had no issues with either one handling problems.

 

[gregzoll]

Maybe a UPC like CyberPower or others? That should give you some isolation and conditioning.

I use one of these: https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/ups/desktop/cp1500pfclcd

I would not touch Cyber Power crap if my life depended on it. APC & Tripplite is the best to go with.

 

[Pharon]

Not really. I have a Tripplite and a APC that I got brand new for under $200. I use the Tripplite for my A/V equipment and the APC for my network equipment. I have had no issues with either one handling problems.

What models do you have?

 

[psgama]

Yeah, a good UPS should fix the problem. Or have a brand new dedicated receptacle on a standard 15A breaker installed. Or on the more grey area side, just swap the breaker out for a standard 15A