EB8 continually trips Arc Fault circuit breaker

[gjdougherty]

New set up in my family room. Existing 15A Arc Fault circuit. I installed a 15A GFCI behind my tank. The EB8 continually trips the Arc Fault circuit breaker in the breaker box, but doesn't trip the GFCI. Connected to the EB8 are two heaters, two Tunze pumps, and one return pump at this time. I tried removing the GFCI and reinstalling a standard recepticle and that didn't work. There are no surge protectors or other devices on the circuit. If I take an extension cord and plug the EB8 into one of the GFCI's in my kitchen, everything works fine. Is the EB8 not compatible with a Arc Fault circuit? Thank you.

[alb]

You don't indicate here if the EB8 is tripping the AFCI when plugged in by itself, or when it has the loads on it. If it's when the loads are on it, then my first suspicion would be the return pump. AFCIs can trip on motor noise; if it doesn't trip without the return pump, or putting a surge protector ahead of the return pump prevents it from tripping, then that'd be indicative.

[zombie]

The eb8 has nothing to do with it. Either the AFCI needs to be replaced or one or more of the components you have connected to the EB8 is not compatible with the AFCI. My guess is that the starting current of your pumps is tripping it off as these breakers are not designed for use with large (relative to breaker size) induction motors. If you can do it yourself, changing the brraker to a standard 15A will only cost you like 20 bucks and most electricians will charge less than 50 bucks to change out a breaker.

You might be an engineer if...You have no life, and you can PROVE it mathematically.