AFCI protected circuits

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greengiant

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Hello All, great website! I have a question about AFCI protection in a bedroom. I have read from 2 different sources about what is required to be on the AFCI circuit and they are conflicting interpretations of NEC 210.12. The 1st source is Mike Holts 2002 "Understanding the NEC", and the 2nd is the Dec.04 issue of electrical contractor magazine. In Mr. Holts book on page 61 he shows that every lighting outlet, fan outlet, smoke detector outlet, and switch outlet has to be on the AFCI circuit. Now in the EC magazine on page 27 Mr. Flach states that the ONLY thing in a bedroom required to be on the AFCI circuit are the receptacles. He says "a switch is not an outlet and neither is a junction box. A definition of an outlet appears in Article 100 reads like this : Outlet. A point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment. Junction boxes and switches do not qualify as outlets under this definition". So who is correct? :confused:
 
Re: AFCI protected circuits

Well, let's think about it.

A light is utilization equipment.
A smoke detector is too.
The room needs to have a wall switch to control the light.

Humm....

Now, if there happened to be a switch in this bedroom that controlled something outside of the bedroom, then it wouldn't need to be on the AFCI.

Sounds like either you are misquoting the article or the article is wrong.
 
Re: AFCI protected circuits

Hi Dave. Here was the question from the Dec.04 issue of EC magazine that prompted the response from Mr. Flach.
Q:Does an AFCI protected circuit have to be provided for a wall switch in a 1 family dwelling master bedroom that supplies outdoor lighting? The switch does not control any loads in the bedroom. What about a junction box that contains only splices? The branch circuit that supplies power to the box does not supply any load in the bedroom."
NEC 210.12(B) states "All 120V, single phase, 15-20A branch circuits supplying OUTLETS installed in dwelling unit bedrooms shall be protected by a listed AFCI interrupter, combination type installed to provide protection of the branch circuit".

Mr. Flach says "A switch is not an outlet", so to me that means that I don't have to put a switch on the AFCI circuit. So should I keep wiring my bedrooms with all the fans, switches, smokes,etc. on the AFCI circuit or just the receptacles?

[ December 24, 2004, 01:17 PM: Message edited by: greengiant ]
 
Re: AFCI protected circuits

So far, everything is fine.
There has been no contradiction yet.

Then there is this question:
So should I keep wiring my bedrooms with all the fans, switches, smokes,etc. on the AFCI circuit or just the receptacles?
Click to expand...
The answer is simple and is what I originally posted above. If these switches or if these receptacles, fans and etc. serve utilization equipment in the bedroom then they are required to be on an AFCI.
 
Re: AFCI protected circuits

ho,ho,ho

[ December 24, 2004, 05:04 PM: Message edited by: iaspiretowire ]
 
Re: AFCI protected circuits

No, the switch for the fan will necessarily be on the same circuit as the fan (unless we are talking about some relays :) ), therefore it would end up on the AFCI. As it is, a switch isn't an outlet.
 
Re: AFCI protected circuits

mery xmiss

[ December 24, 2004, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: iaspiretowire ]
 
Re: AFCI protected circuits

Originally posted by iaspiretowire:
Well if a switch is not an outlet then 210.12 says I dont have to place it on the bedroom AFCI circuit.
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True but if the switch is to control the bedroom light you can not avoid the switch being AFCI protected. :D
 
Re: AFCI protected circuits

I would love to know the historical origination of the term "outlet".

I know it goes back, at least before the 1935 NEC that I have, yet is not in the 1913.

The connection of the Premises Wiring System to the supply might be the "inlet".

"Inlet" as opposed to "outlet". . .hm-m-m-m?
 
Re: AFCI protected circuits

The bottom line is that the 2002 Code states in 110.12(B), "All branch circuits that supply 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere outlets installed in dwelling unit bedrooms shall be protected by an arc-fault circuit interrupter listed to provide protection of the entire branch circuit." This means only the lighting, smoke detector, and receptacle outlets are required to be protected plus the entire circuit that feeds any of those outlets.

As Bob has said, how do you avoid putting the switch on the AFCI circuit? If you wish to feed the receptacle outlet in the next room from the bedroom circuit, go for it. Just keep in mind that the receptacle must be AFCI protected because it will be on that circuit. :D
 
Re: AFCI protected circuits

Originally posted by charlie:
As Bob has said, how do you avoid putting the switch on the AFCI circuit? If you wish to feed the receptacle outlet in the next room from the bedroom circuit, go for it. Just keep in mind that the receptacle must be AFCI protected because it will be on that circuit. :) Now the thread (which would still be enlightening with what you said) is jumbled, confusing and we're arguing with air! :D
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Re: AFCI protected circuits

Originally posted by georgestolz:
Hey aspire: We're here to learn, debate, discuss and have a good time. If you goofed, and you know it, man up and admit it instead of changing everything you've said in the thread. We all have brain-farts. :) Now the thread (which would still be enlightening with what you said) is jumbled, confusing and we're arguing with air! :D
Click to expand...
Well said George, that is one of the unwritten forum rules here. :D
 
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