AFCI circuit breakers

[mshields]

Anybody know who the first company was to develop the molded case AFCI circuit breaker and when?

I know they were first required in 2002 and I believe the major vendors came out with these in 2001 in preparation of this. But some entity must have driven the technology to the forefront? Any idea who?

thanks,

Mike

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

I believe that Cutler Hammer was the leading manufacturer of AFCI development. The development occurred years before the actual requirement for installation. (10 years "rings a bell" )

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I don't know when they were developed, but CH had a proposal to require them for the 1996 code. That would mean they had to have one before November of 1994 as that is when the proposals for the 1996 code were due.
Don

 

[al hildenbrand]

Mike,

Some early patents are / were held by folks at Zlan. They originally called the AFCI a "DE circuit breaker", that is, "Digitally Enhanced".

A reprint of a cited news release that occured November, 1995, talks about patents already held at that time in 1995.

I seem to recall Zlan claiming very early development work, but I don't see that on their web site now.