Another Question(AFCI)

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bakerbrotherselectric

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Customer wants Ceiling Fans in the bedrooms. I have a AFCI circuit that feeds the room, all receps, and the switch that controls the switched outlet. My understanding of the code is that a switched outlet is required. If I put the Ceiling Fan on the same AFCI circuit will it trip? Has anyone experienced this yet? I was thinking of using a general use circuit to feed the ceiling fan switch, but not sure if the inspector will let it fly?
 
bakerbrotherselectric said:
Customer wants Ceiling Fans in the bedrooms. I have a AFCI circuit that feeds the room, all receps, and the switch that controls the switched outlet. My understanding of the code is that a switched outlet is required. If I put the Ceiling Fan on the same AFCI circuit will it trip? Has anyone experienced this yet? I was thinking of using a general use circuit to feed the ceiling fan switch, but not sure if the inspector will let it fly?
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Ive heard of fans causing them to trip, but ive been told the newer afci s are not affected. I do not believe you can put the circuit in the bed rooms without afci protection. all OUTLETS must have it including the fan switch.
 
bakerbrotherselectric said:
Customer wants Ceiling Fans in the bedrooms. I have a AFCI circuit that feeds the room, all receps, and the switch that controls the switched outlet. My understanding of the code is that a switched outlet is required.
Click to expand...
A switched outlet or a switched light is required. If there is a light kit on the fan, you are OK.

If I put the Ceiling Fan on the same AFCI circuit will it trip? Has anyone experienced this yet?
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No, I have never had a ceiling fan trip an AFCI.

I was thinking of using a general use circuit to feed the ceiling fan switch, but not sure if the inspector will let it fly?
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All outlets in bedrooms, including a ceiling fan, needs AFCI protection.
 
brother said:
Ive heard of fans causing them to trip, but ive been told the newer afci s are not affected. I do not believe you can put the circuit in the bed rooms without afci protection. all OUTLETS must have it including the fan switch.
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Brother, a ceiling jb is an outlet. The only time a non AFCI isw allowed in the bedroom is if a switch is controlling a light that is not in the bedroom--ie, a flood light. In that case an afci is not required for that switch.

I have put many a ceiling fan on an AFCI without any problems. Some brands did have trouble with the original AFCI but the newer ones have been corrected and work just fine.
 
I had a customer that had tripping issues with fans (2005?)this is what I found when I looked into it ,..Also I have not had the problem since.

NFPA Standards Concil Meeting July 14, 2004

Steve Campolo with Leviton
".......A particular fan designated a Craftmade ceiling fan, a paddel fan, I personally received phone calls from the field saying "Your speed control is
causing my AFCI to trip." I went out and purchased these fans and hooked them up with the AFCIs and the fan speed control, and lo and behold, confirmed that capacitive type fan speed controls, a technology around for over 30 years, does indeed cause most -- well, three out of the four available AFCIs on the market today to trip......."
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Dennis Alwon said:
Brother, a ceiling jb is an outlet. The only time a non AFCI isw allowed in the bedroom is if a switch is controlling a light that is not in the bedroom--ie, a flood light. In that case an afci is not required for that switch.

I have put many a ceiling fan on an AFCI without any problems. Some brands did have trouble with the original AFCI but the newer ones have been corrected and work just fine.
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Im well aware of that Dennis, im a little puzzled why you felt you had to explain that to me considering I made that clear in my original post.
 
brother said:
Im well aware of that Dennis, im a little puzzled why you felt you had to explain that to me considering I made that clear in my original post.
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Well I will tell you why...:) I read this sentence
I do not believe you can put the circuit in the bed rooms without afci protection. all OUTLETS must have it including the fan switch.
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but I read it twice and missed the word "not". I thought it said "I believe". That's why... my apologies. I am getting good at that. Need to keep my reading glasses nearby. :grin:
 
gar said:
080925-0854 EST

M.D.

What is a "capacitive type fan speed control"?

.
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here you go gar

..a selector switch with a bank of AC capacitors that are placed in combinations of series and parallel circuits to vary the capacitance in series with the fan motor. This results in slowing the fan down by limiting the current to the motor with different values of capacitance. They usually have about four speed settings. All the capacitor type controls I've seen are rated at 1.5 amps. ...
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