I just installed an AFCI breaker for the lighting in my upstairs bedrooms. The breaker does not trip with all lights turned off, but does trip when any switch is turned on. Does nec require afci for lighting , or just outlets, and any suggestions for troubleshooting?

NEC 2005 Edition requires all , and I quote, "outlets" in a bedroom be AFCI protected. This means lighting fixtures, receptacles, and smoke detectors.

Check with local codes, some states waived the smoke detectors, and do not want detectors on AFCI protection.

This may be very simple to correct, by replacing the switch, or switches, that are causing the tripping.

When switches get old, worn, or otherwise, not operating properly, they may cause arcing inside the switch, and this arcing is detected by the AFCI breaker.

If lamps are loose, arcing at the sockets will be detected also.

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Originally Posted by Elsid45

I just installed an AFCI breaker for the lighting in my upstairs bedrooms. The breaker does not trip with all lights turned off, but does trip when any switch is turned on. Does nec require afci for lighting , or just outlets, and any suggestions for troubleshooting?

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All switches and fixtures and wires are new. It doesn't matter which switch I turn on, either first in line or last, any of them trips the breaker. I pulled all the switches out of their boxes and stretched the distance between all the wires as much as I could and left them hanging out but the breaker still trips as soon as I turn on ANY switch. Would having a dimmer switch in one light do anything? Bathroom lights with fans? The line goes from the breaker panel to the master br where there is a dimmer switch with 5 small accent lights, as well as one overhead light on a switch. Then to a second br with one halogen track light in the ceilingon a switch and two closets with one fixture and one switch each. Then to the bathroom with a fan on one switch and a light bar on a dimmer switch. Is this too much, too complicated?

The AFCI is detecting arcing, and my guess is the switches. Try one or two more expensive "Spec Grade" switch to see if I am right.

Dimmers (don't) [EDITED] have the contacts that open and close such as switches, so I don't think they are the cause.

I don't understand what this means:
I pulled all the switches out of their boxes and stretched the distance between all the wires as much as I could and left them hanging out but the breaker still trips as soon as I turn on ANY switch

Do you mean your trying to jump out the switches for testing purposes?

Keep in mind, any loose connection anywhere in the circuit will trip the AFCI, as will a bad or loose lamp.

I'm with TK

There is a possibility that Lights may be on different neutral, May need to pull a neutral so everything has an equal load on hot and neutral. Can't share neutral.
Does it happen when you plug something in and turn on?