Arc Fault Interrupter

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walton

walton

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Sacramento, CA
Can two single pole AFCIs be used on a 14/3 circuit, 2 - 15 amp circuits sharing the same neutral. Or does a 2 pole AFCI have to be used?
 
Re: Arc Fault Interrupter

No, you will have to use a special two pole independant trip AFCI to protect a multiwire circuit. Two normal AFCI's cannot be used since they would each require their own neutral.

Here's a link to a Cutler Hammer catalog for the CH version of their 15amp two pole AFCI.

Cutler Hammer CH215AFIT catalog page

Also, refer to page 4-33 in Eaton Selection Guide

Hope this helps

Mike

[ January 04, 2006, 05:32 PM: Message edited by: Mike03a3 ]
 
Re: Arc Fault Interrupter

Originally posted by kalanjeya:
walton , u have to study more about working priciples of protection devices.

Jeyakumar
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Maybe I'm weird, but that reads as kind of an insult, to me.

Perhaps you could offer him a link to some related discussions, or explain the problem with sharing neutrals on AFCI in more detail?

Simply stating that he doesn't know how they work without offering him an avenue to learn is not too cool, IMO.
 
Re: Arc Fault Interrupter

George is right - if you're pulling new wire forget about multi-wire circuits with AFCI. SquareD is also coming out with an independant trip two pole AFCI, but they explicitly recommend against using it for anything other than on an existing multi-wire circuit. They do mention using 14/4 as Wyatt suggested.
 
Re: Arc Fault Interrupter

Looking at the one line of a Cutler-Hammer AFCI, I don't see why you could not use two singles with the neutral spliced to both AFCIs. The answer must be in the Logic Trip.
georgestolz thanks for the backup, the know-it-all types can be rude.
 
Re: Arc Fault Interrupter

Originally posted by walton:
Looking at the one line of a Cutler-Hammer AFCI, I don't see why you could not use two singles with the neutral spliced to both AFCIs. The answer must be in the Logic Trip.
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AFCIs have built-in GFCI circuity, the tying of neutrals together will cause a trip.
 
Re: Arc Fault Interrupter

Dave sure lost me on that one. He went around that curve so fast I must have fallen off the turnip truck. Oh well, at least I got some new work boots for christmas.
 
Re: Arc Fault Interrupter

Originally posted by DaveTap:
Oh great!! Now we get to de-rate Romex and UF... I'll stick to conduit.
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Are you refering to the 14-2-2 NM cable? You are correct in that you would have to apply an ampacity adjustment, but you also have to if you had the same amount of conductors in a raceway. At any rate, (4) 14 gauge current carrying conductors is a moot point, as the adjusted ampacity is 20 amperes (25 times 80%). When you consider the rules of 240.4(D) and 334.80, it is a wash.
 
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