[Lee24]

Hi all, I’ve got a couple units where the Samsung 1500w microwave is tripping the 15 amp arc fault breaker. I’m assuming the microwave is drawing too much power during the spike. Any fixes besides rewriting or replacing microwave?
Lee

 

[macmikeman]

Is it a dual purpose circuit breaker? Is it a legacy arc fault circuit breaker? Is it a broken microwave oven?

Me? I toss microwaves if they act up in any way.

 

[Navyguy]

Samsung and Panasonic microwaves will trip older generation AFCI breakers. Either replace the breaker with a newer one or add an AFCI deadfront at the panel and a normal breaker.
Siemens has been exchanging my AFCI breakers for this situation at no cost.

Cheers
John

 

[SWDweller]

1500 watts on a 15 amp breaker is a stretch. Close to the max the breaker can handle.

Age of the electrical equipment.

 

[Lee24]

Thanks guys. Glad I wasn’t missing something obvious

 

[SomeJoe]

You're a hair over 80% with 1500 watts on that 15 amper, if breaker trips instantly I suspect it's not a current issue but rather an arc fault or equipment failing. Breaker or micro imo.

 

[kb1jb1]

There is an upscale condo complex a couple of towns over that was built about 4 years ago. They all used a particular brand of exhaust fan/ microwave over the range and all were tripping the AFCI. Most of the problems with today's equipment is from not building equipment to established parameters. It could be component substitutions or making the equipment cheaper. I believe the resolution was to replace the power cord with one that had a filter of some sort. It was either that or remove the AFCI.

 

[Flashedout]

I'm assuming your installation are residential in kitchen's with a dedicated circuit to the microwaves? I know the earlier AFCI's had alot of problems on inductive circuit and microwaves were one of them. Square D homeline series had a recall. The recalls had a blue test button.. where the newer ones are green..
NEC 210.12(A) does require you to have AFCI protection. And in some cases I believe you are required to have both AFCI and GFCI protection check with your local AHJ before replacing it with a MCCB..
Did you check current draw as well?

 

[u2slow]

Microwave isn't a continuous load. It shouldn't be tripping a 15A breaker on thermal.

Imho, change the arc-fault; possibly to non-arc-fault - if still allowed for a dedicated appliance circuit.

Edit: OP appears to be from Canada, so NEC doesn't apply.

 

[kolyan2k]

Here inspectors ask NOT to wire gas stove with microwave together because apparently igniter and some microwaves don't work together with AFCIs

If AFCIs trip randomly, I usually just replace them with regular breaker after inspection