motors and afci's

[Richard T]

I don't understand how an afci outlet can distinguish between a motor arc of a 12 amp motor and any other arc... what keeps it from tripping? or are we back to extremely long cords and extension cords to get to the bedroom?

 

[bphgravity]

Re: motors and afci's

What the manufacturer's did was look at the arc signatures from several switching devices and motors and compared them to a true arcing fault. Through very sensitive equipment and careful observations, they were able to distinguish a characterisitic special to true arcing faults.

However, some devices and appliances still can inadvertaintly provide a false signature that will be recognized by the arc-fault device as a true fault and may result in nusiance tripping.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: motors and afci's

Byran,

What the manufacturer's did was look at the arc signatures from several switching devices and motors and compared them to a true arcing fault.

Actually they ruled them out by the current level. The currently availabe AFCI's don't look at an arc signature of less than 75 amps and it must exist for at least 4 of 8 cycles.
Don