ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues arc -faults

---the fan is on it's own curcit,it is in the stairway that is in the bedroom.--

There you are. 120V, 2005, AFCI.


---i'm going to see if i can move the switch on the stairway landing hopefully he will except that instead of changeing the motor ---

The switch is not an outlet. The fan is.

Just disconnect the fan motor. If the breaker holds, it's not the ckt,it's the fan.

good luck, keep us posted.

Actually it is not that easy Leland. If the neutral is shorted to ground it won't trip the GF portion of the AFCI until you put a load on it.

Thats correct Greg, I did over look the obvious.

In the end, Most likely the 30yr old fan. A new fan would be more economical as well.

On the other hand a 30 year old fan probably has oil cups in the motor and properly maintained it may last another 30 years. I have two at my house like that and I can't bring myself to replace them with some offshore "throwaway" unit. They are quiet and move a lot of air. I guess I should put the clamp on one and see how bad it really is.

The code is pretty clear ... every "outlet" ... and a switch is not an outlet.