Testing an AFCI by arcing wires, and the UL test

[PaulMmn]

It's like outlet strips with surge protection being tested to "UL Standard #999--" And Standard #999 says "if it has a cord, the wire has to be insulated," or some such obvious standard!

 

[romex jockey]

7x15=105amps?

yup...well....GE.....gooood enuff! ~RJ~

 

[mbrooke]

yup...well....GE.....gooood enuff! ~RJ~

Well its lower then most older breakers which were in the 500s+.

 

[romex jockey]

but just over a vacuum motor spike..... ~RJ~

 

[mbrooke]

but just over a vacuum motor spike..... ~RJ~

Yes, there is that.

Question is IMO, at what point does the mag trip overtake the electronica.

 

[romex jockey]

Yes, there is that.

Question is IMO, at what point does the mag trip overtake the electronica.

A good Q MBrooke....i would imagine enough statistical evidence over the last 2 decades would have resulted in some feedback on that>>>

https://www.afcisafety.org/home-owners/unwanted-tripping/

~RJ~

 

[mbrooke]

A good Q MBrooke....i would imagine enough statistical evidence over the last 2 decades would have resulted in some feedback on that>>>

https://www.afcisafety.org/home-owners/unwanted-tripping/

~RJ~

Of course the electronica has a difficult job to do...

 

[kwired]

Yes, there is that.

Question is IMO, at what point does the mag trip overtake the electronica.

Mag trip is only looking at magnitude of current, electronics are supposedly looking at different signature patterns in that current and are supposed to object to any patterns that are not determined to be acceptable. May be a minimum overall current magnitude before this is supposed to apply.

 

[mbrooke]

Mag trip is only looking at magnitude of current, electronics are supposedly looking at different signature patterns in that current and are supposed to object to any patterns that are not determined to be acceptable. May be a minimum overall current magnitude before this is supposed to apply.

Yes, but we have electronica only because the mag trip can't be set to 75a.

 

[kwired]

Yes, but we have electronica only because the mag trip can't be set to 75a.

Well then the mag trip takes precedence over electronics whenever that current level is reached, right?

Before AFCI came along, QO and Homeline had lower mag trip settings on standard 15 and 20 amp single pole breakers, this is why those often trip faster (whether desired or not) than other brands. Didn't necessarily make them better or worse just a different approach at circuit protection on those particular devices, which are the primary ones used for general use circuits.

 

[al hildenbrand]

MOD C ! ! !

MOD C ! ! !

http://apps.geindustrial.com/publib...t Curves|DES-011|PDF&filename=DES-011_TAB.pdf

7x15=105amps?

yup...well....GE.....gooood enuff! ~RJ~

Well its lower then most older breakers which were in the 500s+.

The graph, the Time - Current Response Curve, that RJ links to looks to be for a historic Branch Feeder type AFCI and that the graph is dated August 2002. I have serious doubts about the value of trying to use this response information with the GE MOD 3 Combination type AFCI.