Troubleshooting Guidelines
Condition
Potential Cause
Solution/Action
Push-to-test button will not trip
circuit breaker.
1. Circuit breaker is OFF.
2. Circuit breaker is tripped.
3. Load center is not energized.
4. The DFCI neutral (pigtail) is not
connected to the neutral bus bar.
5. Circuit breaker is damaged.
1. Turn circuit breaker ON.
2. Reset the breaker by switching it OFF
and then ON.
3. Check to be sure load center is
energized.
4. Check neutral (pigtail) connection.
5. Replace circuit breaker.
Circuit breaker trips (handle in
center position and trip flag
appears).
1. Circuit breaker is not installed
correctly.
2. An overload condition exists on the
branch circuit (total current drawn
exceeds rating of breaker).
3. An arc or ground fault condition
exists on the branch circuit, or circuit
breaker is damaged.
4. A load or combination of loads on the
branch circuit emits a current
signature that looks like an arc fault.
1. See installation instructions on
1st page.
2. Assess the current on the circuit drawn
by all the loads by summing all branch
amperages (divide the rated wattage of
each load by 120). If this total is greater
than the circuit breaker rating, the
circuit is overloaded and some of the
load should be removed.
3. Test for arc and ground faults by
completing instructions below.
4. Contact ABB (see contact information
below) for troubleshooting
information.
After the tripped breaker is reset,
LED is ORANGE then turns RED.
The breaker detected a ground fault
from the push-to-test or from the load
circuit and tripped.
If the trip occurred without pressing the
push-to-test button, then the leakage to
ground must be cleared for proper
operation of the ground fault detection.
After the tripped breaker is reset,
LED is ORANGE then turns
YELLOW.
The breaker detected an arc fault from
the push-to-test or from the load circuit
and tripped.
If the trip occurred without pressing the
push-to-test button, the arc fault must be
cleared for proper operation of the arc
fault detection.
After resetting the breaker, the
breaker trips immediately.
This condition indicates that the DFCI
has detected a short circuit, ground
fault or a grounded neutral. If the
solution/action recommendation does
not resolve the issue, the breaker may
have lost its ground fault sensing
capability due to a sensing circuit
failure.
1. Remove the load’s neutral wire from
the breaker.
2. Reset the breaker by switching it OFF
and then ON.
3. If the breaker does not trip, a short
circuit, ground fault or grounded
neutral must be cleared from the
downstream circuit.
4. If the breaker trips, replace breaker.
The circuit breaker is blinking
constantly RED and YELLOW after
push-to-test.
This condition indicates that the DFCI
lost its ability to detect ground and arc
faults.
Replace circuit breaker.
To test for arc and ground faults:
Unplug all items from the receptacles in branch circuit. Reset circuit breaker by pushing its handle to the OFF position and
then to the ON position:
1. If breaker trips with all loads OFF: Check permanent electrical circuit wiring, arcing, poor insulation, shorted wires, wet
connections, wet conduit, a neutral lead pinched to a grounded metal box, receptacle leakage, loose connections, or
other faults that could cause safety features in the breaker to open the circuit.
2. Switch ON one of the original loads. Reset the breaker. If breaker does not trip with this load ON, switch on an additional
load. Repeat until breaker trips. Examine last additional load for possible faults.
Loads and/or wiring suspected of having faults should not be restored to service.
NOTICE: These instructions do not cover all details or variations in equipment nor do they provide for every
possible contingency that may be met in connection with installation, operation, or maintenance. Should further
information be desired or should particular problems arise that are not covered sufficiently for the purchaser’s
purposes, the matter should be referred to the ABB Company. See contact information below.
For troubleshooting or service related questions, contact ABB at 800-782-8061
or at epis.component.support@abb.com
DEH41820 9/19
—
ABB Inc.
305 Gregson Drive
Cary, NC 27511
electrification.us.abb.com
© Copyright 2019 ABB. All rights reserved
Information provided is subject to change without notice. Please verify all details with ABB. All values are design or typical
values when measured under laboratory conditions, and ABB makes no warranty or guarantee, express or implied, that
such performance will be obtained under end-use conditions.
GE is a registered trademark used under license from General Electric company.
