Is the PSU causing a breaker to trip?
Is the PSU causing a breaker to trip?
Hi, I just recently changed my RTX 2070 R5 3600x to a 3090 ti and 5900x with a Corsair RM1000x PSU. Now the AFCI breaker keeps tripping in my room even when playing games that don’t use much power. My old system never tripped it, even with my PS5 and TV on. I can only run my computer and two monitors for about 10 minutes before the breaker trips, but I can run Furmark for around 20 minutes and my GPU draws 450 watts without any issues. The breaker doesn’t trip in other rooms at all. My parents say my room shouldn’t be connected to anything else, but I’m wondering if the PSU might be faulty or if there’s a bigger issue I should check. I’m considering calling an electrician or maybe the PSU is the problem. I have a Kill-A-Watt meter arriving tomorrow and hope it helps clarify what’s going on, but right now it’s all confusing.
Circuit breakers may degrade due to excessive operation or frequent trips. They tend to activate more readily when the load is reduced. I've changed a few, and the power panel remains safe. You could also save costs by replacing them yourself.
Based on how it sounds (tripping in your room, but not others), it seems more like a faulty breaker than a bad power supply, making it necessary for an electrician to inspect the wiring and the specific breaker. I definitely wouldn’t suggest handling this yourself! A few dollars isn’t worth risking your safety.
Your upgrades slightly raised the power needs for your computer.
Maybe just enough to create a problem.
Are there any other active electrical parts connected to different outlets on the same circuit?
AFCI breakers have varying amp ratings.
For example, 15 or 20 amps.
Check your fuse box to find out what circuits are in use in your room.
Try to see if the breakers for the rooms that work are higher.
It could help to confirm that your outlet is correctly wired and grounded.
A suitable tester is available for under $110:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Rec...24...al-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclsrc=ds
In the end, an electrician might be necessary to resolve this.
Hi, thank you for your message. I appreciate the feedback. My breaker is 15 amps, and I tested it in a room with identical breakers without any problems. I have a surge protector that protects my monitors, computer, TV, and PS5—none of these are on. I’m curious about the reliability of the "grounded" indicator on my surge protector. It doesn’t light up regardless of the outlet I connect it to, even on other circuits similar to mine, which show it as grounded. Could an ungrounded outlet be contributing to the trips?
It could be accurate, likely just a test between neutral and ground. They are indeed linked in the power panel, which means they should share similar resistance. Basic plug-in outlet testers can also check this.
The bigger issue here is the absence of grounding, which may cause a breaker to trip unexpectedly. It could point to loose or disconnected wires in some outlets, as cables might be returning to the breaker.
Missing ground doesn’t directly cause a breaker to trip. Ground serves as a safety link to prevent damage from faulty equipment.
This isn’t something I’d suggest you alter. Still, I remember learning how to handle such situations when I was younger and didn’t have the funds for professional help.
I mean I don't own the home I live in, as I said I live with my parents, and when bringing up the matter I was told that I'm just overloading the circuit and they won't allow anyone else to fix it. I was considering running an extension cord from another circuit into mine, would that work or would it also be extremely dangerous?
AFCI failures occur more frequently compared to standard circuit breakers.
I relocated to Arizona and installed fancy AFCI breakers in the bedrooms and living room. The bedroom had a Lenovo m65 mini connected to a 65-watt system, while my i7 5960x with dual GTX 1070s and a 1300-watt PSU worked fine. Eventually, I removed all AFCI breakers and swapped them for standard ones. You might need an electrician if this is the case; otherwise, you’ll have to find a less sensitive circuit.
The house was only a year old when I moved in, and even then I replaced the AFCI breaker with a new one. Sometimes faulty equipment shows up, so I stuck with standard breakers unless I used a different type. In another home I rented in Ohio, the wiring was up to date with AFCI breakers in most rooms, but again I had to replace them with standard style. Since I rent, I just returned the old breakers to the box for easy replacement when moving.
I’m not sure what triggers the tripping, but in both situations it wasn’t due to age or wear—my systems were wired correctly. Additionally, I encountered a UPS connected to my modem and router, which caused the circuit to trip. It’s strange, but I’m surprised it isn’t more common.