Arc fault receptacles

J

Jeff Thomas

Member
Location
Tyler texas
Occupation
Electrician
Is it legal to use an arc fault receptacle in a bedroom of a house instead of a arc fault breaker; in other words does the home run have to be arc fault protected
 
Fred B said:
new installation or simple receptacle replacement?
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It’s a new house that’s been under construction since we were still doing it the old way so all the neutrals are on the neutral bus bar so it would be easier to use the receptacles rather than ohm out every home run to pair the hots and neutrals back up
 
On a new installation I believe the only available method of using a receptacle type AFCI is if it's the 1st outlet and is fed via a 250.118 acceptable metallic raceway. See 210.12 for details.
 
It probably doesn't matter what code cycle you're under at this point. Read 210.12 carefully and understand that there are rules for using AFCI receptacle outlets. Be advised, some of those rules don't play well with what you are wanting them to help you with.

Ron
 
Jeff Thomas said:
under construction since we were still doing it the old way
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2002 NEC required AFCI in bedrooms
2011 NEC required AFCI for replacements

Any local amendments would also apply at date of construction permit.

Does’t Texes deregulate everything?
 
If this is wired with NM then AFCI has to be in the panel. Depending on the panel manufacturer some do have AFCI that now will work with a MWBC. Like this Siemens:
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Jeff Thomas said:
It’s a new house that’s been under construction since we were still doing it the old way so all the neutrals are on the neutral bus bar so it would be easier to use the receptacles rather than ohm out every home run to pair the hots and neutrals back up
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Isnt this wired with cable so all you have to do is disconnect the white wire, trace it back to the cable jacket, and then follow the black wire in that cable to its breaker.

What sucks with older panels is all the AFCI pigtails going back to the neutral bar. I always want some extra wire length so you have monster long bundles to deal with. A plug on neutral panel eliminates these pigtails if you use PON breakers.
 
I know of one jurisdiction in south Georgia that is allowing them in new construction, but is requiring it on the first receptacle regardless how far away from the panel, and not in conduit. A friend of mine built a vacation house down there, and wanted me to check out the builders electrician’s work. After not seeing any arc faults in the panel, I noticed what look like GFI’s all over the house. Looked closer, and they were arcfault receptacles.
 
hillbilly1 said:
I know of one jurisdiction in south Georgia that is allowing them in new construction, but is requiring it on the first receptacle regardless how far away from the panel, and not in conduit. A friend of mine built a vacation house down there, and wanted me to check out the builders electrician’s work. After not seeing any arc faults in the panel, I noticed what look like GFI’s all over the house. Looked closer, and they were arcfault receptacles.
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Here in upstate NY, most inspectors are private third party so really they are the AHJ. Had an inspector for a few years who allowed AFCI at the first outlet, so I did a duplex with that method. These were pass and Seymour brand and they nuisance tripped all the time. Ended up ripping them out.

Even if it were allowed, I think having all these afci receptacles that can trip, behind beds and dressers and stuff is just a really bad design.
 
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