Home Wiring Q: Extension Cord As Inductor to Prevent Breaker Tripping?

[Jonathan S.]

I make joke. You guys no like?
My dude, you have some serious rich people problems.

I like joke, is a very nice!
But which joke?
(Seriously, I see only a rec from you to replace the breaker. And to escape F&*# Huntah. Which I also did, although I have recollections of some serious terrain there, even if the clientele was often a bit much.)

[m2711c]

are you sure that nothing else is on the same circuit? something like this happened to me when my girlfriend was trying to use her 1500 Watt hairdryer in the bathroom. Should’ve been plenty of room on that circuit, but it kept Popping breakers. Took a while, but I finally figured out that it actually went through a roundabout route of outlets to get to the bathroom and one of the outlets had a space heater operating it. the combination of the two would pop the breaker. Once I separated those wires, never had the problem again.

[Core Shot]

^^^^ If you read the thread he says the extension cord works on three outlets including the one next to the ac that trips without the extension cord.
It’s not a circuit load issue. It’s the arc fault. Somehow the extension cord either works through induction or resistance and delayed load spike when the ac kicks on.

Ps. Jonathon. That’s the ge breaker. Buts it’s still arc fault. Get a normal one. Fuck arc. It’s like ass on cars. Fuck that shit too.
GFCI is nice for wet locations. Arc fault sucks.

[stuckathuntermtn]

AF = as fuck. Maybe it's a generational thing. I truly hope where ever you are, you don't need that AC too much. I'm fucking miserable.

[Jonathan S.]

^ I could have used AC on the approach to the SW Chutes last week -- now *THAT* was hot! (As in, too hot, in a bad sense. Fortunately the skiing was also hot, but in a good sense.)

Also hot in Western Mass. Exactly how much we need the central AC here is unknown, since my wife essentially refrigerates the house 24/7 during the summer.

For the house at issue, 14 min from my favorite trailhead on Mt Washington, so that helps. And although the elevation is a rather unimpressive 1,450', the house is so well-shaded that I'm running the AC only for visits by my family and in-laws as it has always cooled down enough each evening for comfy sleeping (by me at least when I've been there solo).

Only marginally related, I noticed that Google street-viewed the road last month, after I had installed a convex mirror at the driveway entrance.
So if I zoom in, I can see the Googlemobile in the mirror!
(And I can see the yellow-flagged wands I placed along the walkway as a joke for my skimo buddies -- yes, that's right, arcane ISMF humor.)

In other home electrical issues, our 18 yr old tankless water heater stopped working here a couple weeks ago.
I checked the breaker, and it was ok. But I flipped it off and on as a desperate measure -- started working again!
Then when I was away skiing, stopped working.
Instructed my wife what to do. Didn't work.
Upon my return home, I also tried. No success.
Then Saturday night, with our teenage daughter complaining about the prospect of another cold shower, tried again.
This time is worked!
And is still working.
Which is kind of unfortunate, since a plumber was already scheduled to stop by this morning.
But he said that unless it's the heat exchanger -- which it doesn't seem to be based upon the all-or-nothing nature of the failure -- he's fine with replacing a faulty component.
So now I have to wait until it fails again, then interpret the Morse Code to see what needs replacing.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Snow is a distant and sad memory. Missoula is on fire.

[Jonathan S.]

Snow is a distant and sad memory. Missoula is on fire.

A friend just drove from Bozeman to the Oregon coast to escape that heat.

Meanwhile, I relatively cool northern NH, I tried an extremely short 12awd extension cord. But that tripped the breaker, just like plugging the AC unit in directly.
So the length of the outdoor extension cord is definitely the effect.

I have a replacement breaker, but didn’t have enough time on this short trip to install it.
I’ll be up there again in a couple weeks and will report back…

[Core Shot]

^^^ buy a non arc fault breaker. You can always return it if the new arc fault solves your problem. But if it still trips you have to go old school.

My guess is old school. The arc fault can’t handle the air conditioner. Or maybe but a new air conditioner. It’s possible it arcs and it’s going to burn your house down

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

As always, doing the exact opposite of what CS recommends is the smart move.

[Core Shot]

As always, doing the exact opposite of what CS recommends is the smart move.

I hope your house is all arc fault. If not you are on borrowed time. It’s going to burn down soon.
Do you even know the difference between arc fault and gfci?

Assuming you are a Karen and have every circuit AFCI then I hope you take the time to test and reset them every thirty days per recommendation. And then update the clock on your stove and microwave and any other device that doesn’t like being disconnected.

Arc fault is supposed to prevent fires from frayed or damaged wires or outlets etc. Not a bad idea if you have old wiring. But modern Romex doesn’t spontaneously disintegrate.

[Jonathan S.]

As always, doing the exact opposite of what CS recommends is the smart move.

https://www.quotes.net/mquote/757126

[jackstraw]

Arc Faults were invented because there was a history of fires you Kore kook!
You still running knob n tube or the Zinsco? [emoji23]

The problem with arc faults is they're electronic and ya they nuisance tripped. New ones don't...or hardly ever if installed properly.

Same as smoke detectors. The codes are extremely difficult to meet for manufacturers and...it's a piece of electronics!! Just like your phone, your car, and every other thing we have today...except skis. Freaking mtn bikes are trending into a motherboard too...so yeah, that shit is gonna fail and 1st gen will probably suck.

Jon...the answer is. Tear your house down and rebuild. Geothermal and ditch the window A/C.

[Core Shot]

I surrender. This horse has been beaten to death.

http://thecircuitdetective.com/afci_...t_breakers.php

According to this guy it’s not just new circuits or new construction. Apparently you can’t even replace a breaker in a preexisting panel. And yet I bought a non arc fault at Home Depot two months ago. Hmmmm. When my house burns down I should sue HD.

Maybe Jonathan’s new AFCI breaker fixes it. If not buy a new AC with less btu. . Or suck it up and install a ductless split system. Way better and quieter than window units. And more efficient. And more efficient for heating in shoulder seasons.

PS. They need to be tested monthly. So all you Karens need to get on that ASAP

[jackstraw]

Well, the thing with the NFPA's NEC is states (and down to towns in some cases) adapt the current code whenever they want. So eastbumfuck NH is probably still on the 1968 NEC guidelines.

[Jonathan S.]

And survey says (does that date me?) ...
... tried a 3' 12awg extension cord, but tripped almost immediately, just like when plugging it in directly.
Went back to the long coiled generic orange outdoor extension cord, and still did not trip.

Bought a replacement breaker from Home Depot.
Reviewed various on-line tutorials.
Turned off power.
Opened up panel.
Flipped the breaker off the bar.
Reviewed various on-line tutorials.
Performed various calculations in my head for risk/reward, cost/benefit, etc., with specific references to other low-impact household improvements I've been working on, both here and at home.
Remembered the moto of "Wiring Is Not a Hobby" from the electrician company.
Decided to text electrician instead.

He stopped by since he was driving by anyway (especially since he lives nearby).
The new breaker did the trick.
He said this was likely no mere coincidence, as they have gotten more finicky over time, especially as how a GE breaker over the years is updated with the patterns for various appliances so as to distinguish between potentially dangerous faults vs just normal behavior.
Fun times talking about this and other electrical issues with him.

Also showed him a mysterious cable I had uncovered when digging up a dirt pile on the far side of the detached garage (while using the dirt from there to build up to the other side of the driveway, in one of my more low-impact household improvement projects). His theory is that the cable/internet wire was routed in a round-about way from the street so as to avoid crossing the driveway or front walkway, which makes sense, although it is quite the amusing loop.
So, multiple mysteries solved in one visit!

[m2711c]

It’s nice to get answers. Life’s mysteries don’t always work that way.



fact.

[Jonathan S.]

^ Depends on the answer!