I just installed five GE AFCI on my 1966 house with success. I also installed GFCI on every branch except the fridge, so that 90% of the house is covered by both.
The back room that was once a garage had faulty wiring with splices everywhere. The GFCI did not work on that and I had to run new wire from the panel to the new receptacles, because there wasn't enough wire to change the receptacles.
So far I have used a 15 miter saw, 15 amp air compressor and 13 amp shop vac on the new AFCI, GFCI breakers, receptacles.
I like the concept. I was able to identify and troubleshoot the problem areas, with out having to rewire the entire house right now.
I don't understand how the bedrooms are more important than the kitchen and living room that gets warn out from use? Perhaps some people in old houses are using space heaters, so they are forcing this on new construction? My 40 year old bedroom electricity is fine, while the living room and kitchen were warn out from use.
(please don't chop up my post to take issue with one aspect)
John, it's not so much to protect people in bedrooms using space heaters. It's to protect people using extension cords that frequently get covered under clothing items or pinched under furniture legs. That won't really matter when the new code changes take effect, since nearly every residential circuit will require AFCI protection.
Not to mention, new houses will eventually become old.
