ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Multi branch circuit and AFCI

Ayrton:
Just an FYI, there is no such creature (that I know of) as an AFCI 'tester'.

AFAIK, the only recognized 'test' is via the test button on the AFCI CB!

The last time I spoke to Sq D re: the CH breakers; they answered very quickly...NO. Speaking to CH, they said "the breaker is recognized for use in SQ D panels"

Can you get another 14/2 up to your splice box?

Of course SqD says a C/H breaker is not allowed in their installation instructions but U/L says it is listed for the application. It is a classic "listing" vs "labeling" dispute.
That is why I said you really need to ask the AHJ. That is also why CH has a sticker that you put in the panel so it is "labeled" to accept the CH breaker.

In the meetings I have been in it is always a split decision, sometimes quite vociferously. I have been in the room several times when Harvey Johnson (CH) and Jim Pawley (SqD) have had it out. The funny thing is Jim would end up staying at Harvey's house when he was in town and car pool up to the IAEI meeting.


BTW I have an off the wall (actually "in the wall" I suppose) idea. Extend the 14/3 down into a readily accessible location, mount a little 2 slot panel with 2 AFCIs and go back up to the original J box with a pair of 14/2s or just do the whole thing with some fished smurf and do it all on one raceway with THHN.
210.12 talks about branch circuits, not feeders.

I saw on a website where they sell AFCI testers. I assumed it was similiar to the tester for GFCI where you plug it into the receptacle and push the button and it should trip the gfci. How are inspectors testing the outlets in bedrooms?

No I cannot get another wire up. House is sheetrocked, patched and painted. It was tight as it is to get that 14/3 up.

Like I stated earlier, I believe I put a jbox in the attic so I could put the 14/3 in a box than split off with 14/2. I will probably have to just knix the red wire and use one circuit for both bedrooms.

That is not a "tester" it is an "indicator" or so the manufacturers say. It will trip the AFCI but it may not really be testing it.

The inspectors I know have a dance they do basically tripping the AFCIs with the test button, checking the outlets are off then resetting it. The trick is doing all of that in the least number of trips.

GE just started making arc faults that work with shared neutrals. I couldn't figure out how to link this so I cut and pasted it. This is no help to the OP unless he adds a small sub panel, but I expect the other manufacturers will follow suit.





Combination Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters
Application Guidelines
Applying 1-pole Combination AFCIs to Shared Neutral Circuits
Until now, using a shared neutral (multiwire branch circuits) on arc fault protection circuits required the
use of 2-pole AFCI breakers, since the AFCI circuitry uses a ground fault CT to help it detect arcs. But
with GE’s newly developed combination AFCI technology, no ground fault CT is required, so shared
neutral circuits can be used with two 1-pole AFCIs connected together with a handle tie (see Figure 1).
The use of shared neutral circuits produces significant copper savings when two branch circuits are
close to each other but far from the circuit breaker panel. A shared neutral circuit uses 3-conductor
NM-B wire to join two adjacent circuit breakers in the panel to a junction box near the branch circuit
loads/outlets (see Figure 2).
GE
Electrical Distribution
imagination at work
Figure 1.
Two 1-pole AFCIs with
THT104 handle tie
Figure 2.
Wiring diagram
AFCI
Panel
AFCI
12/14-3 NM-B
12/14-2 NM-B
12/14-2 NM-B
Junction box
Branch
circuit #1
(A-phase)
Branch
circuit #2
(B-phase)
AFCI pigtails
Red conductor
Note: for simplicity the ground wires are not shown
White conductor
Black conductor
Neutral bar
DET-719 (11/09)
Information provided is subject to change without notice. Please verify all details with GE. All values are design or typical values
when measured under laboratory conditions, and GE makes no warranty or guarantee, express or implied, that such performance
will be obtained under end-use conditions.
Applying 1-pole Combination AFCIs to Shared Neutral Circuits
Selection
The catalog numbers for new combination type AFCIs that are suitable for use in shared neutral
circuits are shown below. It is important to note that the MOD 3 suffix be on the breaker, as the MOD 2
suffix type AFCIs do have ground fault CTs and cannot be used in shared neutrals. MOD 3 breakers
are easily distinguishable by their gray cases and black test switches.
Installation
Connecting two 1-pole Combination AFCIs to a shared neutral circuit is easy. Before inserting the
AFCIs into the panel, connect the handles together with the handle tie (Cat. No. THT104). Then, as
shown in Figure 2, connect the black conductor to the load lug of the first AFCI and connect the red
conductor to the load lug of the second AFCI. The white conductor can be connected to the neutral
lug of either AFCI. It is not necessary to wire the two neutral lugs together. The second AFCI’s neutral
lug can remain unconnected.
The handle ties only provide manual on-off capability between one-pole devices. They do not tie the
internal trip mechanisms together. Therefore, after installation and energization, both of the AFCI’s
push-to-test switches should be tested in both the up and down positions.
This application complies with all applicable National Electric Codes and UL standards.
Amps 10kAIC Plug-In 22kAIC Plug-In 10kAIC Bolt-On 22kAIC Bolt-On
15A THQL1115AF2 THHQL1115AF2 THQB1115AF2 THHQB1115AF2
20A THQL1120AF2 THHQL1120AF2 THQB1120AF2 THHQB1120AF2
imagination at work

If it's only for 2 bedrooms and they won't be using space heaters or AC units I would think one 15 amp circuit would be plenty.

Your right, I just dont like having all those receptacles on one 15a circuit. I know resi guys do it, but I dont like it. With everything now a days than can be plugged in, the more circuits the better IMO.

Thanks for the info on the GE equip.

There, scanned and uploaded, pretty proud of myself. This appeared in Mike Holt's newsletter this week. Funny thing is the properties of the pdf show it was created in 2009.

The first sentence clearly states that you can use a 2pole AFCI for multi branch.

The problem is that GE does not seem to have a classified breaker that will work in your QO panel.

C/H sent me a message that they are still looking into it.