Cost of 2 Pole AFCI Breakers

[mkgrady]

I can buy a 2 pole 20 plug-in breaker by Siemens for just over $100. Same supplier quoted GE at $470. Anybody know why the big difference?

 

[al hildenbrand]

I can buy a 2 pole 20 plug-in breaker by Siemens for just over $100. Same supplier quoted GE at $470. Anybody know why the big difference?

A supplier actually gave you a price for a GE 2-pole common-trip combination-type AFCI? ? ? ?

There is no such animal.

One uses two single-pole combination-type AFCI with a handle tie. Should be about $80 - 90.

 

[mkgrady]

Yes. They offered a GEA THQL2120AF. I did not know two AFCI breakers could be tied together. I thought the shape of the handle would prevent that. Also this is for a multi wire branch circuit. I can’t picture how the neutral would connect to two AFCI breakers

 

[romex jockey]

I can buy a 2 pole 20 plug-in breaker by Siemens for just over $100. Same supplier quoted GE at $470. Anybody know why the big difference?

I've had a few suppliers price gouge in the past , and have taken the time to go over their heads to inform them.

quite frankly, comparitives are easily had>

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=2+pole+a...908771&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_3n9wd0ys8w_b

as well as alternatives>

http://apps.geindustrial.com/publib...NR=Brochures|DEA-635|PDF&filename=DEA-635.PDF

~RJ~

 

[ActionDave]

Yes. They offered a GEA THQL2120AF. I did not know two AFCI breakers could be tied together. I thought the shape of the handle would prevent that. Also this is for a multi wire branch circuit. I can’t picture how the neutral would connect to two AFCI breakers

You connect the MWBC neutral to one of the breakers and tie each of the breaker pigtails to the neutral buss and snap a handle tie on.

 

[mkgrady]

You connect the MWBC neutral to one of the breakers and tie each of the breaker pigtails to the neutral buss and snap a handle tie on.

I assumed they would function like gfi breakers where that would not work. So an afci doesn’t care if current is not balanced between hot and neutral.

 

[al hildenbrand]

I can’t picture how the neutral would connect to two AFCI breakers

The GE single-pole combination-type AFCI breaker went through a version upgrade about eight years ago to the so-called "MOD 3". You will find the term MOD 3 written on the body of the breaker at the handle. The MOD 3 version electronics get all they need to provide arc fault detection from the hot wire. The branch circuit load neutral doesn't have to land on the breaker at all. As GE says: the breaker load neutral terminal is there for convenience only (it gives back the neutral bus position taken by the breaker neutral pigtail), but if you have enough neutral bar terminal spaces, you don't have to connect to the GE MOD 3 breaker load neutral terminal at all.

The actual GE MOD 3 AFCI installation instructions clearly show this.

This PDF GE Advantage Brochure shows the wiring hookup options on page three.

I assumed they would function like gfi breakers where that would not work. So an afci doesn’t care if current is not balanced between hot and neutral.

NOTE: Only the GE AFCI is like this. Siemens, Sq D, Eaton and Leviton are different, as they require the branch circuit load neutral to land on the breaker load neutral terminal.

 

[mkgrady]

The GE single-pole combination-type AFCI breaker went through a version upgrade about eight years ago to the so-called "MOD 3". You will find the term MOD 3 written on the body of the breaker at the handle. The MOD 3 version electronics get all they need to provide arc fault detection from the hot wire. The branch circuit load neutral doesn't have to land on the breaker at all. As GE says: the breaker load neutral terminal is there for convenience only (it gives back the neutral bus position taken by the breaker neutral pigtail), but if you have enough neutral bar terminal spaces, you don't have to connect to the GE MOD 3 breaker load neutral terminal at all.

The actual GE MOD 3 AFCI installation instructions clearly show this.

This PDF GE Advantage Brochure shows the wiring hookup options on page three.

NOTE: Only the GE AFCI is like this. Siemens, Sq D, Eaton and Leviton are different, as they require the branch circuit load neutral to land on the breaker load neutral terminal.

Thanks. Very helpful