Surge Protector & Random Circuit Breaker Tripping

[OliLt]

I have an Eaton 15 Amp "smart circuit breaker" in my service panel. This breaker trips randomly from every few days to months at a time. It trips overnight, and always resets without issues. When you reset this breaker, it flashes a code. The code indicates "Ground Fault". The load on the protected circuit is minimal: lights, clocks, bedside chargers. There is a hardwired duplex receptacle on this circuit to protect sensitive electronics: router, wifi expander, cable box. Could a power surge trigger a ground fault and cause the surge protector to trip? Thanks for your time, Oli

 

[used red MN]

Could a power surge trigger a ground fault and cause the surge protector to trip?

You’re the owner of this fancy do-dad you tell us? I suspect a power surge could likely trip it, would it flash a code that tells you it tripped due to a power surge? What are the advantages of this type of breaker supposed to be? Why do you have it? It seems those units are rather expensive compared to other regular breakers. Did you previously burn up a bunch of sensitive electrical equipment when you plugged them into circuits with regular breakers? Sounds to me like you got a “pig in a poke” I guess it gives you some exercise running out to the breaker box to reset it!

 

[buickanddeere]

Only protective breakers should be near the kitchen sink , bathroom and outdoor wall receptacles.

 

[OliLt]

You’re the owner of this fancy do-dad you tell us? I suspect a power surge could likely trip it, would it flash a code that tells you it tripped due to a power surge? What are the advantages of this type of breaker supposed to be? Why do you have it? It seems those units are rather expensive compared to other regular breakers. Did you previously burn up a bunch of sensitive electrical equipment when you plugged them into circuits with regular breakers? Sounds to me like you got a “pig in a poke” I guess it gives you some exercise running out to the breaker box to reset it!

I did not choose these breakers, they came with the house. It would flash a code if the voltage exceeded 160 volts. It is flashing a code for ground fault. I am not an electrician and and do not know what the advantages of these types of breakers are. An electrician might appreciate these features to trouble shoot a problem. They are pricey, $75. I have always used plug in surge protector strips for sensitive electronics as a precaution against damage. I did lose a computer modem as the result of a lightning strike. This is an occasional problem, not constant. Technology is a Pandora's box and sometimes creates unforeseen problems. How many of us can still work on our cars without special tools and diagnostic code readers. Thanks for your interest.

 

[da.bees]

I suppose you have choices, believe device is correct in saying ground fault and start testing or add additional device(s) to monitor for faults and surges.

 

[joeysmith]

Only protective breakers should be near the kitchen sink , bathroom and outdoor wall receptacles.

Better bone up on your nec book
Putting that stuff on everything now

 

[joeysmith]

I did not choose these breakers, they came with the house. It would flash a code if the voltage exceeded 160 volts. It is flashing a code for ground fault. I am not an electrician and and do not know what the advantages of these types of breakers are. An electrician might appreciate these features to trouble shoot a problem. They are pricey, $75. I have always used plug in surge protector strips for sensitive electronics as a precaution against damage. I did lose a computer modem as the result of a lightning strike. This is an occasional problem, not constant. Technology is a Pandora's box and sometimes creates unforeseen problems. How many of us can still work on our cars without special tools and diagnostic code readers. Thanks for your interest.

Are you sure its a ground fault breaker or is it an arch fault?

 

[mark18]

any other brakers of same type and amprage . as always check to makesure screws are tight

 

[OliLt]

Are you sure its a ground fault breaker or is it an arch fault?

The breaker will flash 6 different codes: 1-Series low current arc was detected, 2-Parallel high current arc was detected, 3-Short delay, 4-Over voltage exceeding 160 volts, 5-Ground fault, 6-Self test has failed. The only error code is 5-Ground fault detected. No other breakers in the panel have ever tripped.

 

[OliLt]

any other brakers of same type and amprage . as always check to makesure screws are tight

Yes, there are other breakers of the same type. They have never tripped.

 

[used red MN]

Yes, there are other breakers of the same type. They have never tripped.

You say it powers lights are any outdoor lights?

 

[joeysmith]

The breaker will flash 6 different codes: 1-Series low current arc was detected, 2-Parallel high current arc was detected, 3-Short delay, 4-Over voltage exceeding 160 volts, 5-Ground fault, 6-Self test has failed. The only error code is 5-Ground fault detected. No other breakers in the panel have ever tripped.

I would swap it to another circuit an see if its the breaker randomly going haywire or the circut has issues

 

[Mule Meat]

Breakers with ground fault protection should not be used on an Surge Protective Devices. There is a slight leakage current to ground that could cause them to trip.

Only protective breakers should be near the kitchen sink , bathroom and outdoor wall receptacles.

No so in this day and time. GFCI and GFI outlets are not the same as ground fault breakers.

 

[used red MN]

Removed

 

[used red MN]

I have always used plug in surge protector strips for sensitive electronics as a precaution against damage.

Sounds like this gentleman has your answer

Breakers with ground fault protection should not be used on an Surge Protective Devices. There is a slight leakage current to ground that could cause them to trip.

 

[buickanddeere]

Breakers with ground fault protection should not be used on an Surge Protective Devices. There is a slight leakage current to ground that could cause them to trip.



No so in this day and time. GFCI and GFI outlets are not the same as ground fault breakers.

GFCI and AFCI are different

 

[Fixingfarmer]

I’ve seen a normal breaker fail in this manner after being involved in a lightning strike

I think replacing it with a new one is probably step 1. Me bring me id leave the other ones that are working in your panel alone and try a fresh one if it doesn’t fix it at least you have a new one in and a possible good spare.

How much does the fancy one cost?

 

[sotxbill]

metal-oxide-varistors's ( used in surge protectors) by design, fault to ground momentary, when exposed to high voltage. During their life they will slowly go open and not work anymore. However its possible to have a leakage and/or surges with a capacitive/inductive loads being switched in and out, making them react, thus kicking the breaker into fault mode. And 220 loads being switched on one side? Or, floating chassis doing the same? Bad neutrals making a rise on one side?