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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 300
M
Member
There are GFCI breaker testers and lots of company's make them and lots of ECs use them.

I suspect they work fine but the manufacturer says to test with the test button on the GFCI. I'll go with the manufacturer's recommendation, especially if it's cheaper and easier than an alternative solution.

I follow the same logic for the AFCI breakers. Test with the built in test button.

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 764
K
Member
If I want to verify that a particular circuit in a room has AFCI protection, I will use an Ideal 61-059 tester to trip the AFCI for verification purposes, then go around the room and check to see that the lighting and receptacles are off.
On the way out, stop by the panel and reset the individual AFCI’s, and while there you can also use the trip test button on the cb itself to actually test for AFCI functionality per UL and the manufacturer.

For resi final inspection purposes, this is much faster and more accurate than going to the panel and attempting to locate the specific breaker for a circuit, turning it off, then going back to the room to verify that the receptacles and lighting for that area are now off.
Especially since in some larger homes, there can be several AFCI protected branch circuits supplying one room.

The nice thing about the Ideal 61-059 is that it is also a traditional cube type receptacle tester with GFCI trip function. It's not much larger than a standard cube tester so still fits neatly in your shirt pocket or clips to your belt with the nylon case.

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
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Kjay:

Thanks!! Your scenario sounds good, with all bases covered.



John
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 165
R
Member
when testing do you test more than one outlet on a cicuit?

Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,233
H
Member
John,


Just push the button. As far as I know there isn't any AFCI tester that is UL acceptable yet. If someone does find one, we would all like to know. (I think) smile

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