renosteinke
Senior Member
- Location
- NE Arkansas
Re: side stepping arc fault breakers
On a more mature note, the practice, recognised (perhaps not directly enough for some) by 210, is that 15 amps is the minimum branch circuit size- unless we are talking about a dedicated circuit for a specific piece of equipment. And, by the way, "non standard" overcurrent protection device sizes are allowed to make it possible to give the maximum amount of protection to the equipment.
The minimum wire allowed is #14, which is consistant with a 15 amp circuit.
Receptacle patterns must comply with the circuit ratings- with one exception: you can have multiple 15 amp receptacles on a 20 amp circuit. Otherwise, as an example, a 30 amp circuit requires a 30 amp receptacle; it is wrong to use a 50 amp or 20 amp receptacle on a 30 amp circuit. Once again, our friends at UL allow a certain amount of flexibility when an appliance is evaluated, taking into consideration such things as start-up current and such. Remember 110 and 'following manufacturer instructions?'
The same "15 or 20amp" wording is also used with regards to GFI requirements. Surely you're not advocating 10 amp breakers for bathrooms....instead of GFI's?
Anything point where something connects that USES power is an outlet. A household smoke alarm, with it's horn and battery back-up, uses power, so it's location is an outlet. Besides NFPA 72 NOT being adopted into law, and outside of the NEC, the "Fire Alarm Code" is referring to remote sensing heads that connect to a central panel...in other words, a glorified switch.
So, like it or not, AFCI's are unavoidable. Since most of Europe protects the entire panel with the equivalent of an AFCI, I suggest that those having problems need to learn to be electricians. Likewise, a little formal education might eliminate some of this hair-splitting and false assuming.
Nor should we ignore reality. There are plenty of appliances that require well over 10 amps, that are likely to be found in the bedroom. Hair dryers and curling irons aren't limited to bathrooms, you know. Or space heaters. Or waterbeds (they also have heaters).
I'm actually surprised none of the geniuses out there suggested dodging the AFCI requirement by using "Malibu" lights and cigarette-lighter receptacles!
On a more mature note, the practice, recognised (perhaps not directly enough for some) by 210, is that 15 amps is the minimum branch circuit size- unless we are talking about a dedicated circuit for a specific piece of equipment. And, by the way, "non standard" overcurrent protection device sizes are allowed to make it possible to give the maximum amount of protection to the equipment.
The minimum wire allowed is #14, which is consistant with a 15 amp circuit.
Receptacle patterns must comply with the circuit ratings- with one exception: you can have multiple 15 amp receptacles on a 20 amp circuit. Otherwise, as an example, a 30 amp circuit requires a 30 amp receptacle; it is wrong to use a 50 amp or 20 amp receptacle on a 30 amp circuit. Once again, our friends at UL allow a certain amount of flexibility when an appliance is evaluated, taking into consideration such things as start-up current and such. Remember 110 and 'following manufacturer instructions?'
The same "15 or 20amp" wording is also used with regards to GFI requirements. Surely you're not advocating 10 amp breakers for bathrooms....instead of GFI's?
Anything point where something connects that USES power is an outlet. A household smoke alarm, with it's horn and battery back-up, uses power, so it's location is an outlet. Besides NFPA 72 NOT being adopted into law, and outside of the NEC, the "Fire Alarm Code" is referring to remote sensing heads that connect to a central panel...in other words, a glorified switch.
So, like it or not, AFCI's are unavoidable. Since most of Europe protects the entire panel with the equivalent of an AFCI, I suggest that those having problems need to learn to be electricians. Likewise, a little formal education might eliminate some of this hair-splitting and false assuming.
Nor should we ignore reality. There are plenty of appliances that require well over 10 amps, that are likely to be found in the bedroom. Hair dryers and curling irons aren't limited to bathrooms, you know. Or space heaters. Or waterbeds (they also have heaters).
I'm actually surprised none of the geniuses out there suggested dodging the AFCI requirement by using "Malibu" lights and cigarette-lighter receptacles!
