ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues arc-fault circuit interrupters

Thanks Joe...the examples really look like they could be addressed by a GFI ???

Hey Guys,

I came across some additional information for your digestion on this subject. I seems to have some good information including some theory, diagrams and sample waveform data. You can follow page links for more info.
http://www.zlan.com/arc.htm
http://www.zlan.com/afci_c4.htm
http://www.zlan.com/waveforms.htm

Enjoy!

Bill

I would say not at all. A GFCI cannot detect any fault between hot and neutral.

Thanks for the info Bill, very informative.

Wayne

I recently read an article where AFI are being considered for use in aircraft (both commercial & Military) to detect cable faults.

Does anyone have the expected current draw of AFCIs? If they draw a few watts each multiplied by 20 breakers, that could be a pretty significant consumption.

It seem to me that having a pair (for redundancy) of tiny computers in the cabinet monitoring all circuits would be more efficient. If the computer in each CB is drawing only a few milliwatts, then it is no big deal.

On a related matter, I wonder how much juice the surge suppressors use and how much money the electric company makes selling spikes that are shunted to earth by the surge suppressors.

http://www.ourhouse.com/cgi-bin/prod_index.jsp?catOID=-97286&page_name=prod_index

(I can't guarantee that the link will work. Try www.ourhouse.com and use the Search feature to find "Cutler Hammer".)

If you figure in the 15% Mother's Day discount and free shipping on orders over $100, 15 & 20 Amp Type BR single poles AFCI breakers are about $32.50 each in quantity 3 to 13.

The GFCI price is $31.78 which puts the prices in line with Home Depot, I think.

AFCIs are able to differentiate between the relatively clean sine wave which occurs under normal operating conditions, and the wildly asymmetrical waveform that occurs during an arcing fault. I assume that there is a time duration consideration factored in to allow switches to open without nuisance tripping. The bedroom is considered the most critical room to start this campaign,(as the technology progresses, and costs come down, they will be required elsewhere) due to the fact that when people are sleeping, they will not be aware of the smoke associated with a fire that likely follow an arc fault. Unfortunately, you still can not count on people maintaining smoke detectors.

[This message has been edited by Redsy (edited 05-03-2001).]

Dspark, the link worked, thanks.

Yeah, fires only spread while you're sleeping..



[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 05-03-2001).]