Old wireing

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JdoubleU

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My brother has the old wireing in his house that doesn't have a ground. I am going to put in GFCI's to bring it up to code. For the bed rooms, if i put in a arc fault breaker do I need to put in a GfCI to bring the ground issue up to code.
 
Jakewhis said:
My brother has the old wireing in his house that doesn't have a ground. I am going to put in GFCI's to bring it up to code. For the bed rooms, if i put in a arc fault breaker do I need to put in a GfCI to bring the ground issue up to code.
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My guess is yes because you would need a class A gfci device.
 
Jakewhis said:
My brother has the old wireing in his house that doesn't have a ground. I am going to put in GFCI's to bring it up to code. For the bed rooms, if i put in a arc fault breaker do I need to put in a GfCI to bring the ground issue up to code.
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Yes, and why are you even thinking about puting in an AFCI?
 
Just curious! No good reason--seeing that afci's have a much better protection when it comes to line to neutral faults.
 
resistance said:
Yes, and why are you even thinking about puting in an AFCI?
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I would. I've got them on all my circuits (except kitchen); I even went and got the new combo types and put them in. They work great, and I feel a little safer.
 
I'm not sure what code you think you're bringing the place up to, but you can leave everything exactly the way it always was and you'll be "up to code".
 
mdshunk said:
I'm not sure what code you think you're bringing the place up to, but you can leave everything exactly the way it always was and you'll be "up to code".
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And this is 120% true!
;)
 
Your never going to get it up to todays code without rewiring.As has been said it already is to code other than any handyman work thru the years.Many old knob and tube systems still working fine.Perhaps you could slowly rewire this place.Start with a new service and keep going.While its not cheap it is mostly labor that runs up the bill.The gfci are a good beginning.AFCI might open up a can of worms.
 
Around these parts, if the renovation work exceeds 50% of floor space, the entire structure must be brought current.

That can get expensive big-time. I love when an old house is gutted and rebuilt. It can cost less than retro-wiring.
 
From what I hear--from an electrical Inspector--the AFCI testers they have take waay too long to trip the breaker, and doing what Sticky said is the best, and most economical solution.
 
resistance said:
From what I hear--from an electrical Inspector--the AFCI testers they have take waay too long to trip the breaker, and doing what Sticky said is the best, and most economical solution.
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Actually, its the only way to test a AFCI. There is no afci tester on the market at this time.
 
stickboy1375 said:
Actually, its the only way to test a AFCI. There is no afci tester on the market at this time.
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I guess so, seeing that the ones they did put on the market didn't work properly :roll:

I guess they are calling it a scam now!?:rolleyes:
 
resistance said:
I guess so, seeing that the ones they did put on the market didn't work properly :roll:

I guess they are calling it a scam now!?:rolleyes:
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Not sure what your getting at, but if your referring to those Ideal testers, they are only AFCI indicators and not testers...
 
resistance said:
I guess they are calling it a scam now!?:rolleyes:
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AFCI Testers—Not Really

Q If an AFCI indicator plugged into a receptacle protected by an AFCI doesn’t trip the AFCI, does that mean the AFCI protecting the circuit is defective
and should be replaced?


A No, an AFCI that does not trip when used with an AFCI indicator does not necessarily mean that the AFCI is defective and needs to be replaced. AFCI indicators on the market today are not AFCI testers, they are listed by UL as AFCI indicators
under one of two product categories including Outlet Circuit Testers (QCYU) located on page 91 of the 2004 White Book or Measuring,
Testing and Signal Generation Equipment (PICQ), which can be located on UL’s Online Certification
Read the signsDirectory at www.ul.com and enter PICQ at the category code search.
ese AFCI indicators provide an indication if a selected receptacle is protected by an AFCI. ese indicators
are generally used to reduce the number of trips to the panelboard location to push the test button on the AFCI circuit breaker. AFCI indicators
produce a waveform that mimics
an arc and because each AFCI manufacturer has a unique way of detecting an arc, every AFCI indicator
may not trip every AFCI. When in doubt, push the test button on the AFCI circuit breaker to be sure.
Please note the only accepted method for testing an AFCI is to push the “test” button provided as an integral part of the AFCI itself.
AFCI indicators are provided with instructions that state the proper way to “test” an AFCI breaker.
AFCI indicators are required to be marked on the product or provided
in the user instructions as follows:
“CAUTION: AFCIs recognize characteristics unique to arcing, and AFCI indicators produce characteristics
that mimic some forms of arcing. Because of this the indicator may give a false indication that the AFCI is not functioning properly. If this occurs, recheck
the operation of the AFCI using the test and reset buttons. e AFCI button test function will demonstrate proper operation.”
Click to expand...

From the May.June 2005 IAEI NEWS
 
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