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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 613
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MWBC was standard in commercial work for ages and still very common but there are still too many guys who just don't pay attention when installing the OC protection. the biggest issue has been damaged grounded circuit conductors (neutrals) typically we always installed the breakers adjacent to each other and labelled the neutral with the circuit numbers. I just don't see this as much and more often than not I am seeing more 2 wire home runs. I suppose harmonic troubles are a huge factor but even that is becoming a smaller problem as the electronics improve their power supplies. IE the power supplied don't dump as much harmonic distortion onto the system. In the CEC the AFCI device was never even contemplated as we were focused on the installed wiring and not what is plugged into it. Here it is just breakers and so far just for bedroom circuits. If my home panel was big enough I'd install AFCI breakers in all but the kitchen and appliance circuits. Unfortunately my home panel uses all narrow breakers and I don't even have enough space to change the bedroom circuits to AFCI breakers. Why do breakers cost so much more than an outlet that provides the same protection? I don't know as a thermal/magnetic trip breaker in a residential panel is around $10.00 retail. I can't see how the electronics add another $50.00 to the cost.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 183
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The reason I brought the two pole AFCI to attention is primarily for retrofit applications. Consider the residence with a multiwire branch circuit that feeds bedrooms and other spaces.
New construction is a different story.
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Posts: 404
Joined: March 2007
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