AFAIK early AFCI's wouldn't pass the listing standards if they didn't have at least 30 mA GFPE protection incorporated. To use that feature you must run all circuit conductors through the sensing CT or you will throw the balance off under normal loading and trip the GFPE. Some time later they found ways to meet listing standards without the GFPE - particularly with GE's line of AFCI's but I think there might be some others. The single pole versions still needed an incoming neutral just to power the electronics but don't necessarily need to connect an outgoing neutral to function properly. I don't understand what is going on inside either other than there no longer is the GFPE component involved on some models. With a two pole unit you do have the ability to power the electronics from line to line and not need a neutral.Thank You (don't understand "how" but don't need to)
and kudos for finding the cut sheet. I spent 1/2 hr on Siemens site and did not,.
THESE 2 pole units don't have both line 1 and 2 available. They do have neutral via either pigtail or plug-on however, so a source of power.
