bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Good Morning Everyone,
Please see the question below posed by Mr. Fecteau of UL.
I have not had any personal experience nor have received any reports of an AFCI breaker actually functioning properly due to a real arcing / faulting condition. I can say that I have first hand knowledge of AFCI tripping due to unintentional ground faults located somewhere on the protected circuit. The far majority of the cases resulted from the equipment grounding conductor coming in contact with the grounded (neutral) terminal of a receptacle. I can say without a doubt that particular aspect of the device works. These were conditions that may have gone unnoticed on a regular overcurrent device.
Since the adoption of the 2002 NEC here in Florida, I would rate the number of troubleshooting issues / complaints about AFCI’s in this order:
1. Defective device
2. Nuisance appliance tripping (vacuum cleaners / UPS’s / refrigeration equipment)
3. Unintentional Ground-faults.
If you have any positive accounts or reports, please feel free to respond directly to Mr. Fecteau.
Thank you,
Bryan Holland
________________________________________
From: Jeffrey.Fecteau@us.ul.com [mailto:Jeffrey.Fecteau@us.ul.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 5:22 PM
Subject: AFCI ?
I am looking for any first hand experience where an AFCI worked. We have all heard stories of nuisance tripping, but what I am looking for is information on where the AFCI performed properly. For example, an actual arc fault or damaged conductors that had a potential to start a fire.
If you have any stories or information, I would like your permission to possibly quote you in an article.
Thanks
Jeffrey A. Fecteau C.B.O., E.C.O
Lead Regulatory Engineer
Regulatory Services
Underwriters Laboratories
Please see the question below posed by Mr. Fecteau of UL.
I have not had any personal experience nor have received any reports of an AFCI breaker actually functioning properly due to a real arcing / faulting condition. I can say that I have first hand knowledge of AFCI tripping due to unintentional ground faults located somewhere on the protected circuit. The far majority of the cases resulted from the equipment grounding conductor coming in contact with the grounded (neutral) terminal of a receptacle. I can say without a doubt that particular aspect of the device works. These were conditions that may have gone unnoticed on a regular overcurrent device.
Since the adoption of the 2002 NEC here in Florida, I would rate the number of troubleshooting issues / complaints about AFCI’s in this order:
1. Defective device
2. Nuisance appliance tripping (vacuum cleaners / UPS’s / refrigeration equipment)
3. Unintentional Ground-faults.
If you have any positive accounts or reports, please feel free to respond directly to Mr. Fecteau.
Thank you,
Bryan Holland
________________________________________
From: Jeffrey.Fecteau@us.ul.com [mailto:Jeffrey.Fecteau@us.ul.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 5:22 PM
Subject: AFCI ?
I am looking for any first hand experience where an AFCI worked. We have all heard stories of nuisance tripping, but what I am looking for is information on where the AFCI performed properly. For example, an actual arc fault or damaged conductors that had a potential to start a fire.
If you have any stories or information, I would like your permission to possibly quote you in an article.
Thanks
Jeffrey A. Fecteau C.B.O., E.C.O
Lead Regulatory Engineer
Regulatory Services
Underwriters Laboratories
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