Are arc fault breakers a "solution" for houses with aluminum wiring?

[texie]

Just get a Ting sensor. All problems solved. With Ting no fancy AFCI breakers are needed.

 

[ptonsparky]

The point of all the AFCI bashing and the OP is don't sell them as a solution for issues with AL wiring. Put the dual function in to make yourself feel better if you do desire.

 

[brycenesbitt]

There was a proposed device that had a thermal element that when exposed to too much heat, created a ground fault using a resistor to limit the ground fault current to 30mA or so, and to be used along with a GFCI. When the poor connection caused too much heat, it shorted to ground causing the GFCI to trip. I think it was proposed as a code requirement 3 or 4 cycles ago.

Might be good for situations like this:

But in that case the smart connected device is on the other end of the transaction.

 

[letgomywago]

Might be good for situations like this:
View attachment 2568737
But in that case the smart connected device is on the other end of the transaction.

I wouldn't be against them saying some sort of special receptacle that has a thermal cut off like a can for EVs, Ranges, and dryers ext. Not necessarily the end of the world though since so many of these need gfi breakers now and should trip when this happens

 

[brycenesbitt]

Not necessarily the end of the world though since so many of these need gfi breakers now and should trip when this happens

But it won't trip until there's an actual line ground short, right? Just melting and arcing from hot to hot won't do it, if I understand right.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

But it won't trip until there's an actual line ground short, right? Just melting and arcing from hot to hot won't do it, if I understand right.

Yes there would have to be a ground fault for the GFCI to operate, but it only takes 5mA of current to trip .... the AFCI does not even look for a parallel arcing fault unless the current on the circuit is at least 75 amps and does not look for a series fault unless the current is at least 5 amps.

 

[ramsy]

It would have been better for the NEC to require GFCI protection for all 15 and 20 amp dwelling branch circuits and forget the AFCI.

The NEC agreed ~20yrs ago w/ 406.3(D), which became 406.4(D)(2), but listed means still prevails for Aluminum wire per post #5.

 

[ramsy]

Yes there would have to be a ground fault for the GFCI to operate, but it only takes 5mA of current to trip .... the AFCI does not even look for a parallel arcing fault unless the current on the circuit is at least 75 amps and does not look for a series fault unless the current is at least 5 amps.

Neither do such devices fix aluminum-wiring by the unnamed, and unintended operations they both have in common.

Unnamed operation by design, not in device name or category: N-G conductor contact.

Unintended operation of unshielded electronics: radio or harmonic noise.