arc fault baffled

Status
Not open for further replies.
Welcome to the forum

Welcome to the forum

210.12(B) Dwelling Units. All 120-volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets installed in dwelling unit family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms or areas shall be protected by a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter, combination-type, installed to provide protection of the branch circuit.

It doesn't matter if the outlets are lighting outlets or receptacle outlets, in order to be code compliant, all of the outlets described in 210.12(B) must be on AFCI protected circuits.

Welcome to the forum. :)
 
Welcome to the forum

The AFCI rules keep changing so it would help if you said which year NEC you work under.

But in general yes, lights are outlets and the AFCI rules from 2002 on require that circuits supplying15 and 20 amp 125 volt outlets must be AFCI protected.

I underlined circuits because AFCIs have to protect the wiring in the walls as well as the outlets themselves. This is a major difference from the GFCI requirements.
 
Just to ease my mind. Does the circuit for a light on the outside of a home have to be arc fault protected if the switch for that light is in the bedroom?

2005 NEC
Bryan, Texas
 
iwire said:
OK I got it NJ does not use AFCIs :D

One day that will change and you will be all messed up. :D
Click to expand...

That's why I stick my nose in all these AFCI threads....I plan on being the primer AFCI trouble shooting expert in NJ :D
 
aftershock said:
Just to ease my mind. Does the circuit for a light on the outside of a home have to be arc fault protected if the switch for that light is in the bedroom?

2005 NEC
Bryan, Texas
Click to expand...

EDIT

That depends...what code cycle?

EDIT:
Going back to my first answer:
No.
 
This was discussed at length in a thread last year. I don't think there was ever any consensus about whether or not a switch constituted and outlet.

On a related note,and by way of expanding my horizons...

I am guessing there is a code section about not wiring residential lighting outlets on 30amp circuits. Am I correct, and what section would I find this in.
 
pbeasley said:
This was discussed at length in a thread last year. I don't think there was ever any consensus about whether or not a switch constituted and outlet.

On a related note,and by way of expanding my horizons...

I am guessing there is a code section about not wiring residential lighting outlets on 30amp circuits. Am I correct, and what section would I find this in.
Click to expand...

HA. Talk about desperately not wanting to use a AFCI

EDIt: I got to admit when I read the code ref the first instant thought was just install 30 circuits.
 
Last edited:
pbeasley said:
the thought has occurred, yes:grin:
Probably not practical due to cost of wire and switches, but wondering if some rich idiot wanted it, could it be done and meet code :grin:
Click to expand...

Typical home appliances will not plug into a 30 amp receptacle and you can not supply either 15 or 20 amp receptacles with 30 amps. See 210.21(B)(3)
 
aftershock said:
Just to ease my mind. Does the circuit for a light on the outside of a home have to be arc fault protected if the switch for that light is in the bedroom?

2005 NEC
Bryan, Texas
Click to expand...
That question resulted in the longest thread this Forum has (781 posts). A poll was done near the end of it. Of those that voted, the tally was three to one in favor of switches not needing AFCI protection.

I held the minority opinion that a switch must be AFCI protected when in an area that 210.12(B) applys.
 
iwire said:
Typical home appliances will not plug into a 30 amp receptacle and you can not supply either 15 or 20 amp receptacles with 30 amps. See 210.21(B)(3)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the code ref.

I also checked out 210.23(B) and table 210.24. I believe this effectively rules out the 30amp to avoid AFCI in all dwellings. Would that be correct?
 
Last edited:
pbeasley said:
Thanks for the code ref.

I also checked out 210.23(B) and table 210.24. I believe this effectively rules out the 30amp to avoid AFCI in all dwelling bedrooms. Would that be correct?
Click to expand...

Pretty much, nothing says you can't run a 30 amp circuit into the bedroom or that you would have to AFCI protect that circuit. But you will need a 15 or 20 amp circuit in there for the 210.52 required receptacles.
 
al hildenbrand said:
I held the minority opinion that a switch must be AFCI protected when in an area that 210.12(B) applys.
Click to expand...

Al,
I tend to agree, on the basis that the Intent of the code is to protect the areas occupied by persons, and to do that requires monitoring all circuits that pass through those areas.
 
A switch IS NOT an outlet.

FRom article 100 Definitions
Outlet- A point on the wiring system at which current is TAKEN to supply utilization equipment.

A switch does not take current to supply utilization equipment. A switch controls the flow of current
 
I have read somewhere about straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. :D

Circuits in a bedroom is not a big deal or a panelboard could not be installed in a bedroom. All of the circuits out of a bedroom panelboard are not required to be protected by an AFCI (kitchen, laundry, AC, WH, etc.) Consider that the bedroom circuits shall be protected; therefore, any switches for lights must also be protected if the circuits are protected. :)
 
Say if you were to have a switched receptacle ( outlet ) Power is withdrawn from the light outlet that the switch controls, therefore the switch must be AFCI protected.
luckyshadow said:
A switch IS NOT an outlet.

FRom article 100 Definitions
Outlet- A point on the wiring system at which current is TAKEN to supply utilization equipment.

A switch does not take current to supply utilization equipment. A switch controls the flow of current
Click to expand...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top