ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Arc Faults for two wire?

watthead, iwire,
I understand that GFCIs will operate on ungrounded circuits when a typical fault to ground occurs.
However, I believe that AFCIs are designed with a GFCI component, so that low level (less than 75 amps?) arcing faults will eventually cause a fault between the line and the grounding conductor, which if not present, will not permit a ground fault to occur inside the cable, and therefore, not open the circuit.
This, I believe, is part of the controversy surrounding the performance of AFCIs.
I'd like to hear more input, please.



[This message has been edited by Redsy (edited 09-25-2003).]

Redsy,

I second your take on sub-70 amp series faults without equipment grounding. AFCI breakers aren't listed for it.

Nothing I have found in the infosphere todate describes other than the 50ma GFI for the low level arc faults.

I find it frustrating that manufacturers of the AFCI breakers (that I can commonly install) apparently refuse to offer any hard teck other than the vaguest verbal generalities and the most simplistic block diagrams. We need to be informed, as the installer of this hardware, to appropriately apply the technology, as Watthead is attempting to do. . .

Any manufacturers listening. . .

[Clear throat] Ah-Hem [/clear throat] I say, any manufacturers listening!!!

Al,
Thanks for the support.

As far as the manufacturers input, it's like that old saying...

You talkin' alot, but you ain't sayin' anything.