Does a circuit breaker trip when connecting a new PC?
Does a circuit breaker trip when connecting a new PC?
I don’t know of any place in Texas that mandates an electrician to replace an existing outlet or breaker. If you’re not very handy with tools, you could purchase one at a hardware store and install it yourself, since we live in the information age and videos on YouTube can guide you through the process.
You won’t need to take out any breakers just to switch wires between rooms.
I’ll note that breakers often weaken over time due to overheating and may trip before reaching their rated capacity. In newer builds, the AFCI breaker might be reacting to minor issues like arcing from loose connections, which could trigger a fire prevention trip. This could be an issue if you’re planning to use high-power tools such as a welder or plasma cutter, but it might not be a concern with standard power supplies. The only solution in that scenario would be to switch to a non-AFCI breaker.
Remember, GFCI protects against electric shock and AFCI safeguards the electrical system.
And I don’t see any signs of overheating.
This situation highlights another point for a professional electrician to handle. There might be various wiring problems or errors that don’t meet local electrical codes. These issues could become problematic when selling the property. What about other GFCIs and outlets on this circuit or elsewhere?
I suggest researching "gfci breaker installation wiring diagrams" and following the instructions carefully.
It’s true I’ve handled similar tasks before, but now I can’t due to several reasons.
In summary, I agree with @BFG-9000 about DIY work, though today’s environment makes it risky. Liabilities, claims, and legal matters demand caution. Nothing should be left uncertain.
Yeah, I’ve never done any electrical work before, and even with YouTube, I’m not sure I can fix it myself. The fourth tech suggested changing the AFCI for a standard breaker, but because we had loose wires in the past (now fixed), I’d rather be safe and keep the AFCI. I haven’t tried the none AFCI yet since I’m a bit nervous.
We purchased the house in 2020 and had an electrician inspect it prior to buying — he confirmed the wiring was satisfactory. Each of the four bedrooms features AFCI protection, the kitchen and three bathrooms have GFCI, and the garage also includes an AFCI.
Occasionally when the computer turns off, I hear a popping noise, though it doesn't happen every time. If the PSU isn't working with the AFCI, will an UPS assist?
If the circuit breaker activates immediately after connecting mains power to the ATX PSU, it's likely due to the initial surge when the device powers up. When connected to a live wall outlet and the rear panel power switch is set to 'on', a significant current spike happens. In a particularly weak case, a 550W PSU draws 78.580A from the standard 115V AC source for just a few milliseconds during the charging of the bulk electrolytic capacitor. According to the text, such a rapid surge can trigger breakers to trip. "Inrush current, or switch-on surge, describes the peak, instantaneous power drawn by an electrical device when it first turns on. A substantial inrush can cause circuit breakers and fuses to activate. It may also harm switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. Therefore, the lower the inrush current a PSU has at startup, the better." Corrective Measures It's possible your PSU selection is suboptimal. Check for a test report on Tom's site that details the inrush current. https://www.ept.ca/features/inrush-curre...solutions/ High-quality ATX PSUs often come with an NTC varistor (thermistor) inrush current limiter, though even then, the current remains in the tens of Amps. https://www.techpowerup.com/articles/ove.../psu/160/3 In the accompanying photo, the thermistor (green disc) is connected in series with the live input to dampen the current spike. The MOV (blue disc) is placed across Line and Neutral to mitigate voltage spikes. A standard commercial surge arrestor for mains will likely have minimal impact on your ATX PSU's current spike. Many inexpensive units contain only a basic MOV for voltage protection. They could offer some defense against nearby lightning or electrical noise from appliances like fridges, washing machines, or AC units. Reviewing numerous Tom's evaluations may reveal a PSU with reduced inrush current, potentially offering a cost-effective alternative to replacing breakers. A mains filter might slightly dampen the surge, but installing one would require professional wiring in a dedicated enclosure. The 10A model below would suffice for my location with 240V mains, but for Texas or 120V systems, a 16A version is recommended. https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/power-lin...rs/1620584 Keep in mind these filters mainly target RFI emissions; the series inductors can still help lessen the current spike's peak as power is applied.
I possess traditional fuses in my main distribution panel (5A, 10A and 30A). There are no miniature circuit breakers, GFCI or AFCI devices. My home is at risk of fire and I am not prone to tripping the main 100A breakers.
Although I believe the issue stems from a surge when power first reaches the ATX PSU, a brief arc could develop between the contacts of any on/off switch connected in series with the mains input to the ATX PSU during the initial milliseconds. If you connect the cord to a wall outlet, a bright blue flash might appear in a dark room, potentially triggering an AFCI protection.
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/202...upter.html
Likewise, most switched-mode PSUs incorporate Class Y capacitors from Line and Neutral down to mains earth. These capacitors offer RFI filtering but dissipate a small current (a few mA) to ground. Adding numerous devices such as computers, monitors, TVs, laptop PSUs, printers, routers, and network switches can cause the cumulative leakage to surpass the 20mA threshold of a sensitive GFCI.
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technic...apacitors/
I recall an example from a Milspec project where a 100mA earth leakage sensor was required instead of the standard 30mA. The leakage currents from high-power transmitters and ACUs would have triggered the breaker above 30mA.
Wrapping up, using an ATX PSU with proper surge protection could help; consider a costly double-conversion UPS that runs continuously and supplies isolated power.
https://www.amazon.com/APC-1000VA-Smart-...JDZCK?th=1
A more affordable off-line UPS sends the mains directly to the output, keeping the inverter inactive unless there’s a power failure.
https://www.engineeringa2z.com/ups-types...d-offline/
But sometimes it doesn’t trigger the breaker immediately, but instead causes an inrush spike later when using the PC to activate the breaker. For the ups, the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS System (1500VA/1000W) seems sufficient to manage the inrush.