eaton circuit breaker trip codes

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Eaton Breaker Flashing Red

• January 7, 2018
• 19 Comments

The good news is that figuring out a tripped AFCI error code isn’t too hard. All it takes is a few seconds when you know what to check for.

Understanding Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters

This technology is not without issues however. Sometimes certain appliances or weather events can trick an AFCI breaker into thinking it has detected a fault when none exists. AFCI breakers are also known to interfere with some types of power line networking such as PLCC. It is best to install power line networking devices on non-AFCI circuits to prevent issues and eliminate the potential frustration of constantly tripping of breakers.

If you find your Eaton breaker flashing red after you reset it from a previous trip it is easy to diagnose the underlying issue by counting the number of flashes. After resetting the breaker the LED will flash a set number of times and pause for a second. It will then repeat this action 30 more times before stopping and turning off the LED until the next trip has occurred (or the test button has been pressed). This blink pattern determines why the breaker tripped and will help you diagnosing the problem if one actually exists.

Eaton AFCI Breaker Error Codes

Follow these error codes to diagnose the trip. After resetting from a trip, count the number of flashes and refer the corresponding error code. If the breaker immediately trips again there is either a direct short on the line or the breaker has failed and must be replaced.

Replacement Breakers

You can order replacement breakers for about half price of Lowe’s or Home Depot from Amazon:

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AFCI Breakers and Nuisance Tripping

It is not recommend to remove AFCI breakers and replace them standard mechanical breakers. Arcs on power lines in homes are the #1 cause of electrical fires and are easily prevented with properly installed AFCI breakers in your panel.

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19 Responses

You’d think eaton would put this info on the breaker panel instead of making me google for it! I’ve been resetting that damn blinking breaker for weeks not knowing what the hell it meant.

Could shower moisture trip arc fault. After trip breaker blinks 6 times. Always successfully resets.

This is unlikely. I’ve had more than one arc fault breaker blink red six times and nuisance trip on a regular basis. Replacing them always seems to fix it permanently.

One thing you could try in a pinch is to swap two identical breakers in your panel. Swap two bedrooms for example and if the swapped breaker trips you know there is an issue in the room wiring. But if the tripping moves to the other room you know there is a breaker issue.

There is a very light red glow on the 20 amp Eaton arc fault breaker for 10 led can lights. The breaker does not trip. What does that mean?

Mike – nice piece of work, very useful, thanks.

I have unplugged everything and after a few minutes it trips again… I will try swapping it out with a different one (as was suggested) and see what happens. Thanks.

Mike, thank you for the article. Was exactly the info I was looking for. My issue turned out to be #6: Self-test has failed.

I have an Arc fault breaker that appears to reset and test as required but no power is being transferred to the two rooms it powered . All light switches are off and nothing is plugged in any outlets. I have investigated each outlet for loose wiring and found none. Hmmmm.

I installed an Eaton 20 amp AFCI/GFCI breaker for a dedicated lighting circuit in my basement greenhouse about three years ago. The circuit supports six 250w heat lamps and ten 9w LED lights, for a total load on the circuit of 1590 watts.

Everything goes through two day/night timers, so it’s only supporting the full load for about 14 hours at night, in the winter. That’s less wattage than a single electric space heater on a single circuit.

Which should be perfectly safe, right?

In three years, the breaker has never tripped, no wiring or plugs or outlets have ever overheaded (and I check all the wiring and plugs and outlets for overheating every time I go down there, which is every day).

Early this evening, for the first time ever, the breaker tripped while I was down there. Breaker flashing 2 red lights (parallel high current arc). I reset the breaker, everything came back up, no problems. Checked all wiring, plugs and outlets for temperature…everything nice and cool.

Tested and reset the breaker repeatedly, still coming up with 2 flashing red lights (parallel high current arc) afterwards. There has been virtually no physical change to the circuit since I installed it three years ago, no nails or staples through the Romex at any point, no humidity issues, no nothing.

What could this be? An arcing heat lamp? Failing breaker?

I replaced one breaker because it kept tripping (dishwasher). It works fine now going on a month. The microwave/oven are tripping another breaker. At this pace, I may have to replace all of them. And at what they cost, I may go broke! (House is 7 yrs old, we are 2nd owners).

Welcome to the world of AFCI. They fail. Alot.

Would it make sense that cold weather could cause the breaker to trip? It’s happened 3 times over the past couple weeks. It blinks a red light twice.

It’s either a short in the circuit or bad breaker.

I have 3 red lights that blink. I am unsure of what a short delay is and what the required fix would be.

My dedicated circuit for my dishwasher trips regularly. You can reset it and it will cycle a load and then after it’s done it trips at some point. It’s flashing 5 red. Sometimes I think it’s flashing 6 red. I think I read somewhere that Eaton will replace these under warrantee? Or am I dreaming?

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Eaton electronic circuit breaker trip codes

Eaton's electronic circuit breakers display trip codes through a red LED on the face of the breaker. When the breaker trips, the LED will display a blink pattern to help the user identify the cause.

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• CH Circuit Breakers

Eaton's residential CH circuit breakers provide premium overload protection. The Type CH circuit breakers trip to the OFF position, eliminating nuisance callbacks.

The CHF family also includes a trip flag to differentiate between a trip and the breaker being turned off. The thermal-magnetic trip curve avoids nuisance tripping on mild overloads while reacting almost instantaneously to severe short-circuit conditions. Multiple breakers have an internal common trip connection to operate all poles simultaneously. Handles are marked with ON-OFF indication and ampere rating of the breaker.

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Core features

• Advanced electronics to reduce unwanted tripping from non-compliant devices.
• Standard LED indicates one of seven trip codes to simplify circuit diagnostics.
• Trip codes are stored permanently into the breaker’s memory, to help identify “trip” history.
• Branch overvoltage protection for sensitive electronics.
• Meets areas requiring AFCI protection under the 200 and all subsequent edition of the NEC.
• One pole breakers 15–30A
• 5mA protection per UL943

Plug-on neutral 

• Time savings up to 25% per AFCI and GFCI installation
• Improved wireway access
• Less wiring makes troubleshooting easier
• Eliminates unwanted tripping due to loose pigtail connections

Quick installation tips

Follow these simple steps to quickly and easily install Eaton's PON circuit breakers.

Reducing the risk 

Risk of shock

Eaton's ground fault current interrupters (GFCIs) provide superior safety where electricity may come into contact with water. GFCIs are required in any application near water such as kitchen countertops, bathrooms, swimming pools, hot tubs, and outdoor receptacles. They immediately break the circuit when electrical current leakage is detected, reducing the risk of shock and electrocution.

Risk of home fires

Arcing faults are responsible for starting more than 28,000 home fires and causing over $700 million in property damage each year in the United States. Eaton's arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) can detect these arcs behind the walls and quickly turn off power before an arc causes a potential fire.

Arc fault technology

Eaton's arc fault technology has been proven through arc fault breakers and has gone through several iterations to reduce unwanted nuisance tripping due to interference from devices or appliances. Arc fault circuit interrupters have been established as a stable technology which can be used in conjunction with various loads through the home in both AFCI breakers and AFCI receptacles.

Increased GFCI requirements you need to know in your next residential job

Here's what you need to know about the recent increased requirements for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)

Dual purpose circuit protection

Eaton’s arc fault/ground ground (AF/GF) circuit interrupters were developed in response to the 2014 National Electrical Code that now requires AFCI protection in kitchens and laundry areas as well as the historical requirement of ground fault protection. The AF/GF circuit interrupter provides quick installation and a single location to easily access and identify tripped circuits.

Need a load center for a new or existing project?

Eaton’s CH 3/4-inch load centers enclose CH circuit breakers for power distribution and circuit protection in residential and light commercial applications. They are used on services providing no more than 240 Vac and are available with bus rated 40-600A. Covers are available as surface, flush or combination. 

Our CH plug-on neutral load center platform eliminates the pigtail connection providing you time and labor savings and a professional look and feel.

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Application notes

• Eaton circuit breakers meet or exceed the strict requirements for heat rise from underwriters laboratories Download Application paper (PDF 223 KB, 04/30/2017)
• BR and CH plug-on neutral brochure Download This document describes the features and benefits of BR and CH plug-on neutral circuit breakers and loadcenters. (PDF 10 MB, 08/31/2018)
• Loadcenters and circuit breakers catalog Download Volume 1 Tab 1 - This catalog contains product details for loadcenters and circuit breakers. (PDF 10 MB, 10/31/2022)

Infographics and listicles

• Which Eaton breaker is right for you? Download This document can help you choose from breaker options for single-home, residential/light commercial tenant or multi-building applications. (PDF 447 KB, 05/01/2022)

Installation instructions

• BR (1-inch), CL (1-inch), CH (3/4-inch), and QB (bolt-on) pigtail and plug-on-neutral, AFCI, GFCI (5 mA), equipment protection (30 mA) and dual function AF/GF instructions Download This document contains installation safety information for BR (1-inch), CL (1-inch), CH (3/4-inch), and QB (bolt-on) pigtail and plug-on-neutral, AFCI, GFCI (5 mA), equipment protection (30 mA) and dual function AF/GF. (PDF 938 KB, 11/01/2018)
• CH and BR plug-on neutral loadcenters and circuit breakers installation tips Download (PDF 363 KB, 04/30/2019)

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• Type CH loadcenters and meterbreakers Download Warranty information (PDF 163 KB, 08/31/2005)

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How to read⚡EATON Circuit Breaker AFCI/GFCI RED light fault codes for circuit, appliance, or breaker

  ⚡️ "Want more high-voltage content? Click to jump to our main page and explore our full circuit of electric videos. Power up your knowledge with every view!" 🔌👀

Our Key Takeaways

• Indicator lights on GFI circuit breakers are diagnostic tools signaling specific electrical issues.
• Proper interpretation of the light sequences and patterns is critical for troubleshooting.
• Regular maintenance and understanding circuit breaker behavior ensure safety and prevent malfunctions.

Comprehending Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) Breakers

Function of the visual alert system.

• Red Light : Indicates a specific issue based on its pattern.
• Flashing Sequence : A series of five flashes suggests a particular problem.
• Repetition : Typically cycles through the flashing sequence 30 times to help identify the fault.

Steps for Problem-Solving

• Inspection : Examine your dishwasher's wiring connections to ensure proper installation.
• Reset Process : If the breaker trips, reset it to see if the issue persists.
• Indicator Observation : After resetting, note the behavior of the indicator light; absence of light may indicate resolution.

Patterns of Breaker Operation

• Tripping Frequency : Regular tripping might reveal a malfunction within the breaker.
• Temperature Assessment : A hot breaker upon removal denotes a potential defect.
• Verification : Consult resources that explain the range of possible faults indicated by the visual alert system.

Assessing the Problem

Seeking reference materials.

When faced with unexplained signals from your circuit breaker, especially if it's a model with a built-in Ground Fault Indicator (GFI) that emits a flashing light, it's crucial to interpret these flashes correctly. They are designed to communicate a specific issue. I personally had to dig into online resources to decipher the meaning behind the pattern of flashes. There are websites that detail each pattern of flashes and the corresponding issues it represents. If you find yourself in a similar circuit quandary, I recommend searching online for information provided by the manufacturer or other reputable electrical information sources to better understand the error codes signaled by your device.

Decoding Alert Signals

Encountering a series of five flashes from a GFI can pinpoint the problem. For instance, this pattern might repeat around 30 times to signal the specific malfunction. In my case, after observing these flashes, I carefully checked the wiring connected to both the circuit breaker and my appliance, ensuring all connections were secure and intact. If the circuit breaker also feels warm to the touch, it can be a telltale sign of a malfunction. It's important to note that your GFI is equipped to alert you to one of several potential issues or sometimes indicate that there is no problem at all. Understanding these signals will guide you towards the next steps, possibly including replacing the breaker if it continuously trips, indicating a persistent issue.

Resolving and Sustaining Electrical Integrity

Examining electrical connections.

• Visual Check : Look for signs of wear or damage on the wiring connected to the circuit breaker.
• Secure Connections : Ensure all wires are properly secured and connected.
• Heat Indication : Feel for excessive warmth which indicates possible issues.

Evaluating Circuit Breaker Performance

• Tripping Frequency : Take note if the breaker trips frequently—a sign it may be faulty.
• Heat Generation : A warm-to-the-touch breaker suggests an internal problem.
• Test Feature : Utilize the built-in test function to confirm the breaker is responsive.

Practical Guidance

• Indicator Understanding : The circuit breaker has an indicator light that may flash to signal various issues.
• Troubleshooting Flashes : Count the number of flashes to diagnose the problem. A sequence of five flashes can indicate a specific issue.
• Online Resources : Refer to manufacturer-provided resources for detailed issue descriptions.
• Repeated Patterns : Observe that the light may repeat the flash pattern approximately 30 times, which assists in troubleshooting.

Understanding Your Eaton GFI Circuit Breaker

Eaton's GFI circuit breakers are integral components for ensuring electrical safety in your home, especially in spaces that are prone to moisture. Have you encountered a situation where your dishwasher trips the breaker, and a mysterious flashing light on it catches your attention? It's not just a random occurrence but a specific indicator built into this circuit breaker.

The flashing light is a diagnostic tool; a red indicator light that communicates the state of the breaker. For instance, if you observe it blinking five times, that's not arbitrary. It indicates one of six different issues that could be occurring, or it might suggest there's no issue. This pattern repeats approximately thirty times to ensure you can identify the problem accurately.

Imagine resetting your breaker and witnessing this flashing light, compelling you to scour for answers. Your due diligence might involve:

• Testing the breaker through its 'test' function, causing it to trip.
• When attempting to reset the breaker, noticing that the light doesn't reappear.
• Inspecting your wiring connections.

If you find the breaker is unusually warm to the touch when removed, it indicates potential malfunction. In essence, the GFI's red indicator is a valuable tool for pinpointing various issues.

To deepen your understanding of how these breakers function and interpret what that bothersome flashing light means, consider enriching your knowledge through CircuitIQ . Here, you'll discover a plethora of information on streamlining power mapping, circuit labeling, and as-built electrical plans.

Navigating electrical problems can be daunting, but with the right tools and some patience, you can troubleshoot issues like these confidently. Remember, if you feel uncertain or the problem persists, it's advisable to seek professional help. Stay safe and empowered in managing your home's electrical safety effectively.

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Eaton Dual-Purpose breaker keeps tripping

• Thread starter Mary Ann Wessel
• Start date Feb 12, 2019

Users who are viewing this thread

Mary Ann Wessel

• Feb 12, 2019

We built a new house three years ago. Everything has worked great. Last week, one of our Eaton breakers tripped. I tried to reset it but it tripped immediately. This circuit has some kitchen lights and some outlets that we never use. I called an electrician and he was able to get the breaker to reset by turning the breker OFF, holding down the test button, and then turning ON the breaker. YAY!! We had lights. I turned the lights off and didn't think about it again. Until I tried to turn on the lights at night. Nothing. Breaker had tripped even with nothing turned on or plugged in. I reset the breaker using the technique the electrician used and the breaker set and the lights came on. Again...after dinner I turned the lights off and some where in the next two hours, the breaker tripped again. I just left it off. This AM I went to reset the breaker again but today - nothing. It won't reset, I can get no test code. Nothing. So before I have the electrician back what should I look for? Could the breaker be bad? Could there be some sort of ground fault even though NOTHING is on? Any ideas are welcome. I'd just like to make sure I (and the electrician) are looking in the right direction. Thanks  

Well-Known Member

Probably a bad breaker. I assume yours is one without the status LEDs that would display an error code. Next best way to test is to remove the wires attached to the breaker itself and see if it turns on.  

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Thanks Stuff. One time the error code showed "ground fault" (five blinks) and other times it's shown nothing. Not sure what to think. If it's truly a ground fault, what pre-troubleshooting can I do before the electrician is called again? As I said - we never use the 2 outlets that are in the circuit and the breaker will trip even with all of the lights off. Again - open for ideas.  

Mary Ann Wessel said: If it's truly a ground fault, what pre-troubleshooting can I do before the electrician is called again? Click to expand...

One more thing - not just turn off but unplug everything on that circuit. Check for loose receptacles and switches. If it's not the breaker then it can take a lot of time to find the problem.  

Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx

You probably DO have a ground fault somewhere. Those can be difficult to find. I had a similar problem. By tracing the wiring, after finding the first device, I disconnected the rest on the daisy chain. That worked solid. Then, I kept moving down the line, adding one new section of wiring/components at a time until I found the section of wiring that, when in the circuit, caused the GFCI to trip. I never did find out what on that branch was the issue...I ran a new wire to that last device. It could be a pinched wire, a staple, a nail, a bare connection in a box, etc. It can be intermittent, like mine was, or if constant, never allow you to reset. Expansion due to heating or pinching caused by movement (even say the wind blowing) could cause that intermittent problem. FIrst thing is to disconnect the wires to the breaker and verify that it does reset and hold. IF that works, then you have to work your way downstream until you find the offending item which could be a wire, a connection, or a device. In my situation, there was nothing plugged into any receptacles, either. Sounds like yours involves a lighting circuit, too, which may be harder to trace.  

Thanks for all of the ideas. I think I'll start tomorrow and look for loose switches and or any wires that might be causing an issue. I did a mini-test today and tried one switch (can lights)for four hours. The breaker did not trip. Then I added another switch (pendants) and left them both on for another four hours. The breaker did not trip. I then turned off the can lights. The pendants stayed on for another two hours before the circuit tripped. I tried to reset the breaker and I am unable to get it to stay on. Again - not sure what this all means but figure I would let you know what I tried in case someone has an idea. Again - thanks for all of the help!  

WorthFlorida

Clinical trail 5th session completed 4/24/24..

Breakers trip because of heat, not only with over current. You’ll need to remove the cover of the circuit breaker panel and check the wire at the breaker. Should be black, maybe red if a 14-3 or 12-3 wire was used. The wire connection at the breaker must be tight and no indication of over heating. If over heating occurs the insulation will usually be burned and the copper would be discolored. Does this breaker have arc fault interrupter and ground fault interrupter. If there is another identical breaker, swap the two out. If the same breaker trips, then it is a bad breaker. If the same circuit trips then there is some bad wiring, switch, outlet or a bad connection. Arc Fault interrupter can detect bad a connection due to arcing. Some arc fault breakers do go out of calibration after years of no problems.  

Cacher_Chick

Test, don't guess.

I had one like that too, it ended up being a cable pinched in a cable clamp going into a can light. The NM cable looked fine on the outside, but was apparently leaking current between conductors when there was a load on the circuit. Not a fun problem to track down.  

WorthFlorida said: Breakers trip because of heat, not only with over current. Click to expand...

• Feb 13, 2019

jadnashua said: Very true, but she said that the failure indication was because the GFCI indication was what was causing her problem... Click to expand...

I've not dealt with them - my home was built before they became a requirement, so all I have are some GFCI (a couple of breakers on newer things, and receptacles on the other, required items). If you read it, apparently there are indicator lights that flash a code...it indicated GFCI, if it was interpreted correctly. While possible, it would be less likely to have arc fault be constant and prevent it from being reset.  

Did you turn off the pendants before resetting the breaker? Also let them cool down before resetting. It sounds like you have an afci breaker. ?  

• Feb 14, 2019

Thanks for all of the input. It is all appreciated and VERY helpful. This has been an interesting journey....that I don't think is close to being resolved. LOL Someone asked about the breakers. They are the Eaton Dual Function (c/AFCI and GFCI) breakers. Someone also mentioned the error code. The breaker blinks a code. IF I get a code, I get five blinks which indicate " Ground fault detected." So more of the story. I should write a novel (though I AM keeping a log). Yesterday AM I was unable to get the breaker to stay on. I decided to try looking at one switch. Took it off, looked for any bare wires or loose connections, etc (saw nothing). Put it back into place. Went to turn the breaker on and it switched on and held immediately (I didn't notice if there was or wasn't an error code). WOOT...could I be so lucky? Turned the lights on and off a couple of times. Everything stayed working. Turned off all of the lights on that circuit at about 5:30PM. Nothing is plugged into the two affected outlets. Went to turn the lights on and the breaker had tripped sometime in there. I didn't need the lights so I turned the breaker off overnight. I tried to turn on the breaker this AM and it would not hold. So I repeated what I did yesterday. Took off one switch, looked for issues, replaced it. Went to turn on the breaker and it came on immediately with no error code showing. I now have the can lights and the pendants in the kitchen on. I think I will leave one of the lights on all day to see if/when the breaker pops. I have a call into the electrician for an estimate. Hopefully he will get back to me today and we can get this fixed once and for all.  

Good to log it all to help the electrician. Identify all outlets on the circuit. Also: Are any outside lights or receptacles on this circuit? They are more likely to cause problems and susceptible to water/moisture causing faults.  

Stuff said: Good to log it all to help the electrician. Identify all outlets on the circuit. Also: Are any outside lights or receptacles on this circuit? They are more likely to cause problems and susceptible to water/moisture causing faults. Click to expand...

WHen you take that switch out the next time, if it's old, consider just replacing it. Also, see if you can check the clamps where the wires come into the box. If the box is metal, that's one thing, if it's plastic, that might mean another. Had one issue with a box where someone had used screws to anchor it versus nails...the threads on the screw had nicked the wire, causing intermittent problems.  

• Feb 15, 2019

A quick question - will a breaker "lose" its error code if it sits in the tripped position for a couple of hours??? I looked at the instructions for the breaker and it says "Turn ON tripped breaker. The breaker will display a blinking LED." The last two nights the breaker has tripped but I've just let it sit it the tripped position over night. When I go to reset it in the morning, I've found that it will reset immediately and there is no error code. I just wasn't sure if it could lose its code. Hopefully the electrician will be out early next week. He's been ill. My thoughts for a sequence on the troubleshooting is: 1) Switch out two breakers in the panel. If the swapped breaker trips, we will know it's a wiring issue. But if the tripping moves to the other room we will know it's a breaker. 2) If not the breaker, test each switch/outlet. All of them are less than 3 years old but you never know. I don't have the tools to test them otherwise I would do this myself. 3) Try and figure out what's going on with the wiring. We've done NOTHING on or near this circuit wiring. But I'm sure some wear and tear is possible even in three years. If you have any other ideas of steps to take I'd love to hear them. Thanks again for all of the help.  

Your question is probably best served by calling the manufacturer. NOte, often, the person you talk with isn't really all that technical...you may need to pursue someone in their tech department rather than customer service.  

• Feb 20, 2019

Update - the electrician was finally able to make it out yesterday. He changed out the breaker and that seems to have been the issue. The breaker has not tripped in over 18 hours (or best before was 7 hours) so we're very optimistic. Hopefully I won't be back with another update later. LOL Thanks again for all of the help and ideas.  

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Eaton AFCI breaker trips and flashes 6 times

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I have an Eaton AFCI 15 amp CH breaker that has worked fine for about 2 years and now it trips and then blinks 6 times. Anyone know what that means? I reset it, and it blinks 6 times over and over for a few minutes and then it trips again. This even happens when I have everything unplugged from the circuit's outlets. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!  

It means self-test has failed. Something is wrong with the breaker and it should be replaced.  

Thanks for the info. I see from Eaton's website that these breakers have a lifetime warranty. Will they likely send me a new one out if I give them a call? Is Eaton good about honoring their lifetime warranties?  

It's certainly worth a call to Eaton to inquire about the warranty replacement. I know for some other products, they want you to submit a request in writing and then they may possibly ask you to send the defective part back to them. So call and see what they require. Would be nice if all it takes is a phone call, but I'd be surprised if it is that simple.  

Rather than all that B.S., I would simply buy a new one from HD, replace it, then put the defective one into the package and return it as such. It will end up back at the manufacturer anyway, and you won't have to wait for your replacement. And why should you? It's not your fault.  

FYI - Had same issue with a 20 amp CH Eaton circuit breaker, called Eaton at 877-386-2273, option 2, then option 1 and it will be replaced free of charge. They are not requiring the old one to be sent back. Very easy to do, and very good customer service. Did not require anything other than telling them I had the breaker and that it was tripping repetitively and flashing 6 times.  

Just did this on May 3, 2023, and it really was this simple to get a new breaker. The only correction is that the options are now 1 and then 4. After a very short wait, I was connected to a customer support agent who ordered me a new breaker in a matter of minutes!  

Ya HD has gone the road of putting returned merch back on the shelves. I ceased spending money with them after I got the same defective part 2 times. They had to order it in for me. That is a service I can live without.  

SW Dweller said: Ya HD has gone the road of putting returned merch back on the shelves. I ceased spending money with them after I got the same defective part 2 times. They had to order it in for me. That is a service I can live without. Click to expand...

Ya like I did not do that. Taught long ago to mark defective material. Always do. Federated electronics stores did this in Phoenix. I returned 8 modems all marked bad. They had a shrink wrap machine in the back and had employees rewrapping the products, so maybe they could sell one and the person buying them would not return it. Attorney General of AZ shut them down about the time they were being sued in California. The WWW did not exist and the best one could do to communicate with the planet was using the newsgroups. Worked much better from a University campus.  

Studly said: I have an Eaton AFCI 15 amp CH breaker that has worked fine for about 2 years and now it trips and then blinks 6 times. Anyone know what that means? I reset it, and it blinks 6 times over and over for a few minutes and then it trips again. This even happens when I have everything unplugged from the circuit's outlets. Click to expand...

stevieg said: FYI - Had same issue with a 20 amp CH Eaton circuit breaker, called Eaton at 877-386-2273, option 2, then option 1 and it will be replaced free of charge. They are not requiring the old one to be sent back. Very easy to do, and very good customer service. Click to expand...

FYI... Just had this breaker's 15 amp version with the same situation--kept popping and error code 6 upon turning it back on. Called +1-877-386-2273, Opt 2, Opt 2, Opt 1 and was put on hold for a few minutes, then they offered to call me back. I accepted that offer and received a call within five minutes, told them the problem, they collected all my info and are sending me two replacements, in case I have a problem with another. No questions asked; no need to return the defective item. Excellent customer service! I cannot remember the last time (if ever) I have had a better customer service experience.  

I have the same issue, and the number above still works, but the options are incorrect for residential breakers. Fortunately the guy who answered was very friendly and transferred me. Two new breakers on the way next week.  

I have to chime in here as well. I have 2 Eaton 20 amp AFCI/GFCI breakers that were repeatedly tripping, with 6 flashes after reset. Found this thread, called the number and Eaton is sending out FOUR replacement breakers. I'm only having problems with 2 out of the 4 in my panel, but the rep asked how many I have, and is sending 4 in case there are any additional problems. Apparently there are issues with these particular breakers, and they are aware of the issue. Just wanted to comment that I had the same excellent response with Eaton customer service. I was fully prepared to go drop nearly 100 bucks on 2 new breakers until I found this thread. Hoping this thread will continue to help others as it did for me. Thanks to Eaton and to the previous responders here.  

SAME HERE ! Called number above Opt 1 , Opt 4 . Done. Two new 20 amp breakers on the way under warranty. Thank you for this post / thread ! Eaton said, call back to repeat if I have any trouble with the others. Great service.  

same thing here. Used same number, called, got transferred to helpful person, new breakers on the way. Thanks for the OP and subsequent posters for helpful info that saved me a $65 trip to HD  

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