Breaker trip during show.....twice......during the same song each time.

[Donl1150]

 

Comments from 9/28.............

Running version 4.4.4. Ran my first show last nite and encountered a few issues. I have 6 songs and in 4 of them the same prop acts up. It is a spinning Christmas tree with 8 channels. During the show, it freezes for a moment and only displays 1 channel for several seconds. When I checked the file this morning in SE, there is no problem with the sequence/visualizer. I am wondering if that controller (number 1 in all cases) has an issue with channels 1-8?

Also during the show last nite, during one of the suspect songs, the GCFI tripped. The ground was dry and there was no moisture involved. After the breaker was restored and the show cycled to the same song, again the breaker tripped. I stopped the show for the nite with the intent of fixing the problem today.......but the sequence runs with no problem.

What do you make of this? Thanks

 

 

UPDATE *********** 7 pm ECT 9/29.

Ran the show tonight and again the breaker was tripped during the same song as last night. Reset the breaker and continued on. Once it cycled to that song, it tripped again. Shut it down for the night.

One thing I noticed as I shut down the computer is there were 2 control panel icons active in the system tray. Could that have been the cause?

 

[TheDucks]

Is the Breaker an AFCI or GFCI. AFCI interpret fast transitions as ARC's

[PhilMassey]

I have no idea how to get two control panels in the system tray. Certain It can't trip a breaker 

At the very least you should reboot, and possibly uninstall and re-install to fix your software issues 

If you continue to see two cp's post a screenshot 

[Donl1150]

19 minutes ago, TheDucks said:

Is the Breaker an AFCI or GFCI. AFCI interpret fast transitions as ARC's

 

Not sure......I will have to take the panel cover off to perhaps find some markings.  The house is new though (1 yr in FL)  Perhaps it is combo due to code.

 

 

[k6ccc]

The fact that it has a test button tells me that it's either a GFCI or AFCI, but I can't tell which.  Does that circuit feed any bedrooms?

 

[TheDucks]

I think the Green bar is on AFCI. An as of the 2020 NEC they are required just about everywhere. 🥺

[Mr. P]

Since the house is only a year old I'm willing to bet AFCI.

[Donl1150]

6 minutes ago, k6ccc said:

Does that circuit feed any bedrooms?

yes it serves 1 bedroom and the entry foyer.

 

[Mr. P]

definitely AFCI as GFCI would not normally be in a bedroom.

[TheDucks]

Just now, Donl1150 said:

yes it serves 1 bedroom and the entry foyer.

 

Plug your controller in elsewhere. These have been required for Bedrooms for almost a decade, so removing is not an option (or a good practice)

[Donl1150]

Looking on line, it seems all you can find are dual GFCI/AFCI, all around $60.  I did see a simple Eaton 15 amp breaker for $8 but probably not  good idea for the outdoor application.  If I can find just a GFCI only breaker do you think that may solve the tripping issue?

[Donl1150]

Looking at my panel, I see every 120 v breaker has a test button, with the exception of 2 in the garage & the fridge.  Would the garage ones be GFCI only?  Perhaps use one of those?

[Mr. P]

Garage may have a GFCI outlet which may protect outlets down the line. My garage outlets and outdoor outlets are on the same line with the garage GFCI outlet protecting the circuit.

[TheDucks]

2 minutes ago, Donl1150 said:

Looking at my panel, I see every 120 v breaker has a test button, with the exception of 2 in the garage & the fridge.  Would the garage ones be GFCI only?  Perhaps use one of those?

Do they all look like the picture, then they are the same. As Jim said. Both kinds have Test buttons.

The other thing you might try is change that sequence so the BIG-quick changes don't happen abruptly (make them Fades)

[Donl1150]

I changed to the garage GFCI outlet.  Ran the show through twice, past the point where it tripped before, with NO trip.  I think this problem is solved!  Thanks.

Now I have one other problem to fix.  I have one prop (a spinning tree) that sometimes uses all 8 channels and other times gets stuck with only 1 channel lit.  Reading through the forum, it seems likely I have some channels with conflicting instructions.  I don't know how to find where the conflict is though.  Is that what the Verifier does?  I have never used that function.

 

[TheDucks]

9 minutes ago, Donl1150 said:

I changed to the garage GFCI outlet.  Ran the show through twice, past the point where it tripped before, with NO trip.  I think this problem is solved!  Thanks.

Now I have one other problem to fix.  I have one prop (a spinning tree) that sometimes uses all 8 channels and other times gets stuck with only 1 channel lit.  Reading through the forum, it seems likely I have some channels with conflicting instructions.  I don't know how to find where the conflict is though.  Is that what the Verifier does?  I have never used that function.

 

Verifier will tell you what channel, but not where it is.