Hello all, I recently ran into a square D homeline panel. A previous electrician who is not finishing the job ran a 12/3 homerun to the bedrooms upstairs. I thought it was no big deal until I discovered that Square D does not make a 2 Pole Arc Fault breaker. Only single poles. Is their any other option for me? I never interchange brands of breakers, but is their an alternative besides running 2 separate 12/2's?
2 Pole Arc Fault Breaker Question.
- Thread starter aptman3
- Start date
- Status
jaylectricity
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Occupation
- licensed journeyman electrician
Then he won't be able to use arc-fault breakers.
Sorry, aptman3, you'll need to pull another 12-2 unless you plan on changing the whole panel.
brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Former Child
does anyone make a 2-pole AFCI yet?
might look into a 2-space panel if so . . . otherwise, . . . . more cabling needed.
might look into a 2-space panel if so . . . otherwise, . . . . more cabling needed.
rich9112
Member
- Location
- Southern Utah, USA
How many bedrooms?
How many bedrooms?
It may be possible to combine the circuits and use a single afci breaker depending on the # of bedrooms.
How many bedrooms?
It may be possible to combine the circuits and use a single afci breaker depending on the # of bedrooms.
jaylectricity
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Occupation
- licensed journeyman electrician
Ah yes, I second this notion. A little bit more in materials, a lot less labor.
sparky_magoo
Senior Member
- Location
- Reno
I have used 14/4 made for AFCI ckt.s in the past. The second white wire has a red stripe. Two wires stay in the first box and the other two splice to a 14/2 and continue to the first box on the second ckt.
I assume they make 12/4 as well, just watch your box fill.
I assume they make 12/4 as well, just watch your box fill.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
I like this option.
With all the lighting, and electronics they use in bedrooms today that may present a load problem.
I second that. 2 bedrooms on a 20amp circuit should be fine.
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
Given that this is a Dwelling, the load calculation that is the minimum required can result in what some installers will claim is "overloaded". 2008 NEC 90.1(B) is a really strange statement to wrap one's thinking around.
Until aptman3 gives us actual loading descriptions for the:
we have open conjecture on what may or may not be a good solution.
One thing for sure, putting both circuits, on one breaker, will not improve anything. The number one service call item we have is overloaded branch circuits.
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
I dunno, . . .
The comment that caught my eye was:
There's probably a back story there. And 12/3 for an AFCI homerun? I can easily suspect some "less than conventional" installation . . . too many possibilities. It would be better for aptman3 to give a few load details rather than imagine all the ways the situation might be better or worse.
Personally, I'd be interested in the square footage of floor area covered by the outlets on the 12/3, and what the 12/3 connected lighting load actually is, along with any other non-receptacle 12/3 connected Utilization Equipment.
Yes the 12/3 got my attention also, a lot of side job guys, just assume bigger is better!
electricmanscott
Senior Member
- Location
- Boston, MA
Does CH make a two pole combo afci? I know Siemens does. Haven't seen a CH yet.
- Status