NEC 2008 Article 210.12 Exemption No. 1

[cyriousn]

Hey guys. Sorry if this has already been posted before but with the new 2008 adoptions around the nation I was wondering if anyone notcied exemption 1 to article 210.12 B. Does anyone know of any point of use AFCI protection? I called Leviton and Cooper and the NFPA hotline and they were all stumped?

Thanks

-Nick

 

[tom baker]

That provision was added in the 2002 NEC but was much more restrictive, there were no manufacturers offering that product. I'll expect we see some soon. Watch the trade mags, typically new products are announced before they are available.

 

[MarkyMarkNC]

Square D already has a patent filed on an arc fault device, and is awaiting U.L. certification.

I'm sure having the device already listed in the NEC ahead of time would probably help speed up bringing this device to market. It also would not surprise me to see Square D license this technology to all of the other device manufacturers as well.

The purpose of having an arc fault device would be in a re-model situation with an obsolete panel or breaker type. If someone is adding a circuit in a house with a Pushmatic, or Zinsco or FPE breaker panel, in order to be code compliant, one would have to change out the entire panel, as there is no such thing as an arc fault breaker for those brands.

I'm guessing the reason the line side to the device has to be in a metal sheath or conduit, would be for any arcing to cause a short to ground and trip the breaker.

 

[raider1]

I agree with Tom, I am not aware of any listed combination AFCI receptacles on the market today.

Chris

 

[iwire]

It also would not surprise me to see Square D license this technology to all of the other device manufacturers as well.

It would surprise me greatly, so far each manufacturer has held secret their method of looking for an arc fault and all do it differently. That is one reason there are no such thing as arc fault testers, only arc fault indicators.

 

[MarkyMarkNC]

It would surprise me greatly, so far each manufacturer has held secret their method of looking for an arc fault and all do it differently. That is one reason there are no such thing as arc fault testers, only arc fault indicators.

Maybe they are just wishfully thinking they can sell licenses to all the other companies then!

The guy who told me about Square D was pretty certain they were the only one with a patent on this so far. I guess it will be interesting to see if this works out differently than the breakers did.