Combination AFCI

[Mike Garrett]

A contractor I inspect for wants to know if he can use a sub-panel with 50 amp AFCI combination type main shut off switch instead of individual AFCI circuit breakers?He would use regular circuit breakers in sub panel for bedrooms,halls etc.I inspect in Pennslyvania.Thanks for any help in this matter.Mike Garrett.

 

[raider1]

If he can find one I don't see why it would not be permissible. I don't know that I have ever seen or heard of a 2 pole 50 amp combination AFCI breaker.

Chris

 

[480sparky]

Legal, but may not be a good design.

 

[raider1]

Legal, but may not be a good design.

I agree, using a main combination AFCI breaker could be a nightmare for troubleshooting.

Chris

 

[augie47]

Legal, but may not be a good design.

agree... the more individual circuits you are protecting, the greater the chance of "nusiance tripping" plus the more is disconnected when the trip occurs. GFCI the subpanel and loose everything operating off that panel with 1 trip.

 

[ceb58]

If he can find one I don't see why it would not be permissible. I don't know that I have ever seen or heard of a 2 pole 50 amp combination AFCI breaker.

Chris

If he found one big $$$$$. IMHO it would be dumb to serve the whole panel with it. One problem on one circ. would shut the entire panel down. So now you are trying to find which circ. is causing the problem before you can start trouble shooting the problem with the one circ.

 

[JohnJ0906]

You might also have an issue with cumulative ground leakage, since AFCIs do have ground fault protection built in.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

This is a moot topic, as there is no such beast available.

So far there are only 15 7 20 ampere rated devices.

 

[ceb58]

This is a moot topic, as there is no such beast available.

So far there are only 15 7 20 ampere rated devices.

Hold down SHIFT then hit 7 = &

 

[TOOL_5150]

lol for a second I actually thought "what is a 7 amp afi for...?

~Matt

 

[al hildenbrand]

Not only are they only 15 & 20 Amp, they are only single pole.

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

lol for a second I actually thought "what is a 7 amp afi for...?

~Matt

That is hilarious. I've had to design a handful or "foreign" systems using 8amp 13amp etc circuits and I certainly was thinking 7amp... 7amp... what country is that...........................

Thanks for that HA HA HA!

 

[raider1]

Not only are they only 15 & 20 Amp, they are only single pole.

There are a couple of manufactures that make 2 pole combination AFCI breakers.

Chris

 

[480sparky]

There are a couple of manufactures that make 2 pole combination AFCI breakers.

Chris

Link please? I haven't been able to locate any. Yet.

 

[iwire]

There are a couple of manufactures that make 2 pole combination AFCI breakers.

Chris

Chris last time we talked about this no one had a listed two pole combination AFCI breaker.

Do you have new info? :smile:

 

[raider1]

Chris last time we talked about this no one had a listed two pole combination AFCI breaker.

Do you have new info? :smile:

I don't, but it seem to me cutler hammer had one but I could be wrong.

Chris

 

[480sparky]

I don't, but it seem to me cutler hammer had one but I could be wrong.

Chris

I've scrounded Eatons & CHs site and can't find any.

 

[raider1]

I've scrounded Eatons & CHs site and can't find any.

According to their product cataloge the fireguard AFCI breakers come in a 2 pole version.

Chris

 

[raider1]

HERE is a link to the AFCI selection guide for Cutler Hammer AFCI residential breakers. According to the guide you can get a 2 pole version for shared neutrals.

Chris

 

[iwire]

HERE is a link to the AFCI selection guide for Cutler Hammer AFCI residential breakers. According to the guide you can get a 2 pole version for shared neutrals.

Chris

Chris I notice the absence of the word 'combination' for the shared neutral ones.