I don’t have an answer, only more mystery in my own story. Last August, I moved into a newly renovated apartment so everything was up to “latest” code. Breakers tripped at random. I’d be working, nothing surging and then CLICK.
I had multiple breakers tripping without warning, sometimes across circuits. I’d reset it, and a different breaker would trip. Once, the refrigerator breaker tripped… and there’s nothing else on that circuit. Another time it was the “lighting” circuit, which is the pre-installed overhead lights, all energy-saving fixtures that were installed as part of the renovation, presumably passing inspection.
Some of the circuits were dedicated so no chance of overload.
I did a load analysis and no, I didn’t have any wall outlets overloaded either, or using the wrong kind of device. Space heaters were the only potential culprit and I had the specs for them, and none of them were in use during any of these trips anyhow.
The electricians acted like I was crazy till I showed them a detailed journal with dates, times, what tripped, what tripped next, etc. Plus a circuit diagram that I had made myself, showing what was ACTUALLY connected to what.
Then I asked for an exorcist. I mean… their work was perfect so it must be a poltergeist, right?
What seemed to be going on was that:
- newer electrical codes mandated more sensitive breakers. Snowflakes, as it were.
- sloppy electrical contractors during the renovation, who were later inclined to point fingers at others and to defend their own work.
- circuits that had been wired together by mistake.
- Bathroom breaker circuit, including fans and lights, all with auto shutoffs, was wired to other circuits instead of itself.
- The bathroom lights, but not the fan, were somehow connected to the other lighting fixtures.
- Some issues with wall switches that had dimmers. I’d use the dimmer and CLICK, reset, and another circuit would go off. It was maddening. I couldn’t fully duplicate the problems, either. It was flaky.
Those same contractors came back multiple times and would find maybe one arc fault but then they’d do things like leave my wall plates dangling for a week. The crew were junior and didn’t know how to test for ground faults OR arc faults, or even do rudimentary problem-solving. I had to do all their thinking for them.
Turned out that several circuits that had been wired to each other by accident. That took like 5 visits and a different electrician to figure out.
Finally I convinced building management to hire a different electrician who found most of the remaining issues. I threatened to hire my own and deduct it off my rent. Other tenants had complained as well, since it’s a brand new renovation and half of them couldn’t even use their lights.
The second electrician had a brain and didn’t try to gaslight me. There were multiple issues. One had been caused by a piece of conduit which apparently had loose screws and nails inside of it. They just ran new conduit, visible conduit, so as not to have to open the drywall.
Sloppy contractors, and poor coordination among trades. Maybe the drywall got slapped on before the electricians were completed.
I don’t know if this will help your problem. I’m curious about why yours is tripping at the same time every night.
