New Arc Fault Breakers

[Dennis Alwon]

Assuming that the branch circuit originates at the service panel and there is no load on that circuit when you make the test, it is not likely that you will cause the AFCI to trip.

This is true. Mea Cuppa again. I should have said reverse the ground and neutral and plug in a lamp.

 

[electricmanscott]

I'm not sure the inspector is wrong. I don't know what brand of tester he is useing , if it worked in the past or what brand of AFCI is being used.


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I am sure he is wrong and it does not matter one bit what tester he is using if it is not the push to test button.

 

[walkerj]

Assuming that the branch circuit originates at the service panel and there is no load on that circuit when you make the test, it is not likely that you will cause the AFCI to trip.

I have tried this while adding some circuits in my service panel and it didn't trip.
All grounds and neutrals were landed on the same bar in the panel.

 

[gndrod]

proper test-per mfr

proper test-per mfr

I have tried this while adding some circuits in my service panel and it didn't trip.
All grounds and neutrals were landed on the same bar in the panel.

Note: An AFCI lands the prime neutral on the bar, and the load neutral on the outlet device, if I interprete the context correctly, L-N, L-G require conductor arcing for parallel trips across existing potentials. Series faults require a conductor or terminal 'intermitant contact' from an L, N 5A energized load. Unless you can duplicate what the interrupter is designed to detect, tripping won't happen. Use the test button per the manufacturer's recommended instructions. Art. 110.3(B) rbj

 

[gndrod]

This is true. Mea Cuppa again. I should have said reverse the ground and neutral and plug in a lamp.

Hi Dennis, Unless the lamp peaks at 5 Amp, the AFCI series 'intermittant' may not trip under that threshold unless the breaker is designed to do so. rbj

 

[don_resqcapt19]

rbj,
The AFCI has a 30mA ground fault trip and reversing the grounded and grounding connections at the load and turing the load on will make it trip.

 

[gndrod]

N, G reversed

N, G reversed

Thanks Don. I was commenting on a combination series load current level fault and not paying attention to what was being discussed on N, G reversals. rbj

 

[sandsnow]

I just love how things get over-complicated.

These AFCI "indicators" are a convenience thing only. Plug into recep in bedroom push button and AFCI trips and you know it is protected.

You can do the same thing with a cheapo three light tester. Plug into recep, push button on Afci and if lights on tester go out you know circuit is protected. What is so hard about that?

This how you test the lighting or SD outlets in the bedroom.

On the rough inspection the inspector should have verified that all bedroom outlets are going to be AFCI protected circuits. On final he is just double checking that fact.

I've had conversation with the Ideal rep about this. The C/B manufacturers will not release proprietary data about the AFCI breaker, so it is doubtful there will ever be a 100% reliable AFCI tester.

 

[e57]

proprietary data = secret...