HawthorneVillager.com

Hi there -- we just discovered yesterday that every single outlet upstairs in on one circuit. And the circuit seems faulty now because starting up a computer where we had just replaced the PSU with a 550W (not a big power draw, and we have checked and confirmed that the PSU isn't faulty) has tripped the circuit every time.

Firstly, those of you that know the model -- is this just the way the Croftsides are? Secondly, it doesn't seem good that three bedrooms and two bathrooms all share one circuit (that says 15 when I look at the switch). Can someone tell me if this is a problem like I think?

Thirdly, I'd really like to fix it if possible. Can those of you that know the ins and outs of electrical work (including how not to end up paying way too much) point me in the right direction of what needs to be done and who should do it?

Thanks!

Okay, I've been told that the underlying problem may be due to how certain PSUs act, which draw, for a split second at startup, a large amount of electricity and then go back to acting normal (low draw). Would this mean that an easy fix would be just to make the circuit breaker larger than a 15? Is that safe?

No, you can not change the 15 amp breaker to a 20 amp breaker.

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What else is on that circuit? You may have something else running and the UPS sparking up is just pushing you over the edge. Space heater?

And I don't think you can fix this without doing some major rewiring...

I stand to be corrected by knowledgeable persons, but I believe that all bedroom wall circuits have to be on a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor), because of course all kids want to do at night is jam knives into receptacles. Safety first!

Sounds like your panel is wired that way, if you say the the bathroom receptacles are on this same circuit. The breaker in the panel may be a GFCI breaker, to protect all devices on that circuit.

Anywhoo, I said all that to suppose that your computer may be somehow pissing off the GFCI, and causing it to trip? That's my guess, but you need to have a chat with an electrician, there are 2 or 3 that get good reviews on this site (search using "Cardinal", and "George", for starters).

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This one thing probably never goes away
I think this one thing is always supposed to stay
This one thing doesn't have to go away

You could put the computer on a UPS, that should absorb the Inrush Current generated. But will not solve your over all problem

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The PSU on your computer will not draw that high of a load for a split second. Chances are you aren't close to drawing 550w. Even if you were, it's not even close to 15A.

Your bathrooms are on a separate circuit. Bedroom's by code have AFCI's not GFI's. It's possible that it's worn out. I had one that did because of a wiring issue. If you're under warranty with Mattamy, call them.

Call an electrician and have them check if your AFCI is defective, and replace if necessary. Good luck!

I'm confused. Does this mean something is crosswired? The breaker that got thrown is the only one that had a blue test button on it, and it's labelled "upstairs bathrooms", and now that I think about it I didn't actually test the outlets, but made the assumption. I guess I can manually throw that breaker later when I get home and double-check.

If it is a croftside, it is definitely not under warranty since they haven't been built for a long time. In fact, if my dates are right, the earliest Croftsides may have been built BEFORE the AFCI code change in the early 2000s (Andy? John?).
That said, if you've got the AFCIs at your panel, if there is a weak wire somewhere along the line, even an old lamp plugged in somewhere in another room, the ARCing will happen and the breaker will trip. Try unplugging everything else temporarily before you turn your computer on next time, and you can at least isolate the problem to the wiring behind the walls, or the breaker itself if it still happens. If it doesn't happen anymore when everything else is unplugged, then it is one of the other things you normally have plugged in causing the issue, when the PC power surge.
Keep us posted!

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Sorry, I just read your last post -- the breaker might be mislabeled. The AFCI for bedrooms has the blue button on it:


Normally, the GFCI bathroom outlets and NOT wired into an AFCI breaker. They should be on their own, as said above.

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As Fred said, its probably labeled wrong. Test out the bathroom next time the breaker trips.

You can also simply have a bad AFCI, they can get worn and trip when they aren't supposed to. Mine got worn because I had a wiring fault. Mattamy made a tiny nick the electrical cable in the wall with a nail, over time I guess it got worse. The cable AND AFCI had to be replaced (AFCI was worn).