GoldDigger,
Would you kindly post the link to the source of the information you provided as it was not consistent with what I read in the PDFs at the link provided by PetrosA.
It is all from PetrosA's link.
1. Regarding GGCI:
Ground Fault (class A) protection.
By definition,
class A Ground Fault protection has a 6ma threshold and is also commonly known as GFCI. From the second PDF document link:
The 2014 National Electric Code now requires both Combination Arc Fault
and Ground Fault protection on all 1-Pole, 15 A, and 20 A kitchen and laundry
circuits. Prior to the release of the Dual Function Circuit Breaker, a contractor
or homeowner?s only choice was to use a Combination Arc Fault circuit breaker
in conjunction with an expensive, bulky Ground Fault receptacle.
The fact that they do not call the receptacle a GFCI receptacle indicates to me that they are just not using that terminology for some reason.
2. Regarding AFCI trip time, from the first document link (PDF on Time Saver Diagnostics):
Describing how to retrieve information on the previous trip cause, you hold down the test button while closing the breaker (a different process than pressing the test button after the breaker is closed, and possibly requiring that whatever fault occurred has already been cleared, by removing the branch circuit lead if necessary, that part is not clear.) It is possible based on what they say that the handle will latch but the breaker will not actually close if the test button is held down. That would make the test safer
When you hold down the test button and close the breaker, one of three things will happen, even if there is no current fault.
1. The breaker handle will trip in less than one second. This indicates a ground fault detection (unbalanced current, including arcing, or the separate test for ground/neutral connection on the wrong side of the unit) was the cause of the previous trip.
2. The handle will trip at 2 seconds. This indicates that the previous trip was caused by a series arc or a parallel arc other than to ground.
3. The handle will trip at 5 seconds. This indicates that the previous trip was caused by overcurrent OR that there was no previous trip event recorded. (The breaker was opened manually? The breaker's memory was reset somehow, as perhaps by removing power from the line side? Lots of uncertainty there.)
OK, 4. The handle does not trip at all. The breaker failed the TEST function, so you have no idea what may have gone on before.
I do not see any wording anywhere that indicates that a normal trip for AFCI signature detection will take 2 seconds.
