[KeepingItReal]

Have not noticed this mentioned but the SMART ELECTRIC METERS can cause AFCI breakers to trip.

A couple of articles posted but there are more:

Any smart meter with a AMI7 radio transmitter in it will cause these breakers to trip. Get back to your power company and explain the problem and they have to remove that smart meter and replace it with a Digital meter that doesn't have a radio transmitter in it. It's the burst of RF from the transmitter that triggers the tripping. Is your electrical panel behind the meter base? You will have trouble.


Smart Meters tripping AFCI's - InterNACHI Inspection Forum

Smart Meters tripping AFCI's
Smart meters are now being installed in my area.

Smart meters are starting to trip AFCI's.

As you know, an arc fault breaker looks at an electrical sign wave and figures out what's right and what's not.

When it "see's" the signature of an arc, it trips. RF ( radio frequency) interference has nearly the same electrical signature as an electrical arc.

Guess how the new smart meters talk to the home office? (radio frequency)

Where the electrical panel is located next to the smart meter problems have developed according to my bubba electricians.

This is NOT a builders problem. It is a utility company problem. A builder has no control over a utility company.

Need to be sure the AFCI is tripping due to smart meter and not from electrical work. This can be done by requesting the utility company switch back to a mechanical meter.

What can someone do? Write your congressmen and ask that the utility companies go back to the drawing board. (??)

It is my understanding that PG&E in Ca has already been told by court order to switch back to mechanical meters when someone has problems. More fun to come I am sure.

(No effective RF shield is available that won't also block the RF signal back to "big brother".)

If you inspect homes then this info may be of benefit to your master macro file.


From Smart Meters tripping AFCI's - InterNACHI Inspection Forum Smart Meters tripping AFCI's - InterNACHI Inspection Forum


ADDITIONAL INFO:

Bringing Power and People Together

It looks a little different, but the SmartMeter™ does the exact same job as the analog meters we’re all used to seeing: measuring and recording energy usage. The difference is that SmartMeter™ uses new technology to provide two-way communication between PG&E and your home or business. It periodically transmits readings to PG&E, so you can see your hourly electricity usage online.
Since the communication is two-way, SmartMeters™ can be upgraded remotely, making it quicker and easier to offer future technology upgrades.
Learn about SmartMeter™ benefits
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Smartmeter TM Eelectric System

Traditional Residential
Electric Meter SmartMeter™ Residential
Electric Meter
The solid-state digital SmartMeter™ electric meter records hourly meter reads and periodically transmits the reads via a dedicated radio frequency (RF) network back to PG&E. Each SmartMeter™ electric meter is equipped with a network radio, which transmits meter data to a electric network access point (pictured below). The system uses RF mesh technology, which allows meters and other sensing devices to securely route data via nearby meters and relay devices, creating a "mesh" of network coverage. The system supports two-way communication between the meter and PG&E.
The electric network access point collects meter data from nearby electric meters and periodically transfers this data to PG&E via a secure cellular network. Each RF mesh-enabled device (meters, relays) is connected to several other mesh-enabled devices, which function as signal repeaters, relaying the data to an access point. The access point device aggregates, encrypts, and sends the data back to PG&E over a secure commercial third-party network. The resulting RF mesh network can span large distances and reliably transmit data over rough or difficult terrain. If a meter or other transmitter drops out of the network, its neighbors find another route. The mesh continually optimizes routing to ensure information is passed from its source to its destination as quickly and efficiently as possible.


Smart Meters

Q) Do you mean smart meters contain an intentional RF transmitter?

A) Sometimes. When a smart meter contains an RF transmitter:

The frequency of operation is typically in the 902 MHz and 2.4 GHz bands.
Power output is typically 1 watt in the 902 MHz band and much less in the 2.4 GHz band.
The intended range of a transmitter in a smart meter is typically very localized. While the utility-side radio needs to reach a neighborhood concentrator, typically mounted on a nearby pole, smart meters can also mesh through other smart meters to communicate with the concentrator. (using five hops or less) See Figure 2.
The smart meter only communicates when it is commanded to do so, typically several times a day.
The smart meter’s transmitter operates under Part 15 of the FCC rules.

NEIGHBORHOOD SMART METER CONCENTRATOR FACTS

Neighborhood-area concentrator at 902 MHz input. This particular concentrator can link up to 1024 smart meters. It uses 902 MHz as the aggregated output "backhaul" to the Network Operations Center (NOC) or another up-stream concentrator before the NOC.

SENSUS is the provider for the Smart Network for SECO and likely should be involved in this problem:

SECO Energy Selects Sensus as Smart Grid Technology Provider | Business Wire



SMART METER AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONCENTRATOR PHOTO BELOW

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE