AFCI

[darrenh]

Looking the Code book Afci are required on all 120 volt single phase 15 and 20 amp branch circuits supplying outlets installed in said areas. Looking at article 100 the definition of outlet where current is supplying utilization equipment. To me that would define recs & fans, and lights inside a house am i looking at this correctly.

I am not referring to any of the exceptions.

 

[GoldDigger]

You are exactly right about that, for those areas of the house that are covered.

 

[al hildenbrand]

To me that would define recs & fans, and lights inside a house am i looking at this correctly.

Yes. AND: The definition of "Outlet" also includes hard wired loads such as a baseboard electric heater that is 125 Volt 15 or 20 Amp. Smoke and CO detectors in the areas listed in 210.12 are included, also, to be AFCI protected.

 

[darrenh]

I see that bathrooms are listed?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I see that bathrooms are listed?

No bathrooms are not listed

 

[al hildenbrand]

And new in the 2014, kitchens.
Tapatalk

 

[darrenh]

No bathrooms are not listed

Sorry meant to say bathrooms are not listed

 

[darrenh]

Why is it that you have to have a light in your bedroom on a afci and not a light in your bathroom?

 

[GoldDigger]

Why is it that you have to have a light in your bedroom on a afci and not a light in your bathroom?

You do not sleep in your bathroom?

 

[rcarroll]

You do not sleep in your bathroom?

I woke up in my bathroom a couple of times in my younger days! :ashamed1:


You don't typically sleep in the kitchen either, but the 2014 NEC requires AFCI protection there. I suppose the bathroom will come soon enough.

 

[cowboyjwc]

I woke up in my bathroom a couple of times in my younger days! :ashamed1:


You don't typically sleep in the kitchen either, but the 2014 NEC requires AFCI protection there. I suppose the bathroom will come soon enough.

I thought I had an answer until I started to type it and the realized that I was wrong, so I would agree that it will probably be coming soon enough.

 

[gary]

The brochure that came with a sample Eaton AFCI receptacle has an illustration explaining the various parts of the device. One item I found of particular interest was a "Large visual LED indicator light to give quick notification of tripped or "end of life" condition." I found that to be troubling wording after recently finding that many smoke & CO detectors are now manufactured in such a way as to force replacement after a set period of time. I don't see anything in the specs to indicate that these particular AFCI's have a fixed limited lifespan, but maybe they just haven't thought of that yet. :angel:

 

[electricalist]

The brochure that came with a sample Eaton AFCI receptacle has an illustration explaining the various parts of the device. One item I found of particular interest was a "Large visual LED indicator light to give quick notification of tripped or "end of life" condition." I found that to be troubling wording after recently finding that many smoke & CO detectors are now manufactured in such a way as to force replacement after a set period of time. I don't see anything in the specs to indicate that these particular AFCI's have a fixed limited lifespan, but maybe they just haven't thought of that yet. :angel:

I havent worked on houses in a couple years. When I did we used afci square d breakers. Are you saying its an actual device like a gfci would be. If so what would be the benefit of using it over a breaker In new construction. .for service calls remodels and such things I guess.

 

[GoldDigger]

I havent worked on houses in a couple years. When I did we used afci square d breakers. Are you saying its an actual device like a gfci would be. If so what would be the benefit of using it over a breaker In new construction. .for service calls remodels and such things I guess.

In new construction it could be used for a circuit where both AFCI and GFCI are required. Although the more common way of dealing with that, I believe, would be an AFCI breaker and a GFCI device.
The dual function breakers are new enough that there is little experience with them yet.

 

[electricalist]

I cant say I know alot about afci and how they are supposed to perform. Usually ground touching a neutral screw was the most common reason I found them tripping. It seems if nm had the same outer coat as the hot and neutral then there wouldnt be many places for a arc fault. Unless they were designed to make money for someone

 

[kwired]

The brochure that came with a sample Eaton AFCI receptacle has an illustration explaining the various parts of the device. One item I found of particular interest was a "Large visual LED indicator light to give quick notification of tripped or "end of life" condition." I found that to be troubling wording after recently finding that many smoke & CO detectors are now manufactured in such a way as to force replacement after a set period of time. I don't see anything in the specs to indicate that these particular AFCI's have a fixed limited lifespan, but maybe they just haven't thought of that yet. :angel:

Not certain how CO detectors work, but ionization type smoke detectors will deteriorate as the radioactive material used in them decays, this will decay from the time it is manufactured and will not matter when it was placed into service.

AFCI's having an end of life indicator would likely be more of a self testing feature. Any component fails this test and it will activate end of life indicator.