AFCI's

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jdb

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AFCI's are required in bedrooms, but not porches. If there are switches in the bedroom that controll items on the porch, are these switches required to be on an AFCI circuit?
 
jdb said:
AFCI's are required in bedrooms, but not porches. If there are switches in the bedroom that controll items on the porch, are these switches required to be on an AFCI circuit?
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The majority of members would say a switch is not an outlet and only branch circuits supplying outlets require AFCI protection.

So in my opinion no that switch in the bedroom does not require AFCI protection.

Thats said, not everyone agrees with that so I suggest asking your inspector.
 
IMHO by definition a switch is not an outlet, but I have had inspectors try to fail me for not AFCI protecting outside lights when the switch was in a bedroom. Like Bob said, I would ask the inspector.
 
If power in the bedroom is already AFCI protected, why bother bringing in a non-AFCI-protected circuit just for the porch light? Just put it on with the bedroom circuit and forget about it. Nothing in the NEC says the porch light cannot be AFCI-protected.
 
480sparky said:
If power in the bedroom is already AFCI protected, why bother bringing in a non-AFCI-protected circuit just for the porch light? Just put it on with the bedroom circuit and forget about it. Nothing in the NEC says the porch light cannot be AFCI-protected.
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You cant do that, that would be way to easy and against the "its way to easy code" ;) :grin:
 
I AFCI protect lighted switches in bedrooms, but not regular switches or the fixture that is outside the bedroom. A deck off a master bedroom or a "main" floodlight switch in the master bedroom are the two times I bump into this, normally.
 
iwire said:
The majority of members would say a switch is not an outlet and only branch circuits supplying outlets require AFCI protection.

So in my opinion no that switch in the bedroom does not require AFCI protection.

Thats said, not everyone agrees with that so I suggest asking your inspector.
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Inthis case, the house will be built in the county. We have state license here in Texas, so I will try to get an opinion from them. Thanks, jdb.
 
480sparky said:
If power in the bedroom is already AFCI protected, why bother bringing in a non-AFCI-protected circuit just for the porch light? Just put it on with the bedroom circuit and forget about it. Nothing in the NEC says the porch light cannot be AFCI-protected.
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Because of the number of porch lights, etc. I do not wish to possibly overload the circuit. Thanks, jdb.
 
480sparky said:
If power in the bedroom is already AFCI protected, why bother bringing in a non-AFCI-protected circuit just for the porch light? Just put it on with the bedroom circuit and forget about it. Nothing in the NEC says the porch light cannot be AFCI-protected.
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I agree 100%!
 
I know a guy who goes to great lengths to use as few AFCIs as possible. He doesn't afci switches for porch lights or porch receptacles etc. :wink:
 
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