Professional tool reviews for professionals
For homeowners who have not dealt with electrical codes for a while, arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) may still be newbies. They are the result of industry research on how home fires started and might prevent them from happening. Some studies have shown that more than 150 home fires in the United States every day are caused by electrical wiring problems. The difference between an arc fault circuit breaker and a GFCI socket or circuit breaker is that it detects a slow leakage current. When the wiring is damaged but not completely short-circuited, slow leakage usually occurs.
A good example is when a nail pierces the wire behind the wall and a small current starts to accumulate heat. Another situation is that the wire nut is loose, and the small arc increases the temperature between the wire and the nearby ground. This can even happen when the socket or switch connection is loose.
Since a small arc is different from a large amount of electrical energy (such as a short circuit) that is quickly grounded, a typical circuit breaker will not detect leakage. You can think of an arc fault as a spark or a small amount of electrical energy that generates heat but does not generate a large amount of energy flow. Obviously, they can quickly consume nearby wood and plastic to make a fire.
The design of traditional circuit breakers does not allow them to detect arc faults. They will only trip when large amounts of energy suddenly flow to the ground or through the circuit due to a short circuit. They also cannot extend protection to connected wires or extension cords plugged into wall outlets.
These new arc fault circuit breakers function more like "smart" circuit breakers. They actually contain small filters and logic devices. This allows them to detect the arc before it generates heat and sparks that could cause a fire. Once it does so, it will immediately close the circuit. Even the GFCI (ground fault circuit breaker) does not have the ability to induce arcing, so homeowners should not add these by mistake, thinking that they will provide the same level of protection.
See also: Leviton AFCI socket
Read our article about Klein AFCI/GFCI socket testers
The new arc fault circuit breaker first appeared in section 210-12 of the 1999 edition of the National Electrical Code. As of 2002, the code requires the use of any bedroom circuit in a residence. According to the research at the time, the bedroom was the main source of dangerous and life-threatening arcs. Then, some municipalities went one step further and required arc fault protection for all circuits that supply power to residential living areas.
As of January 2008, only "combined" AFCI meets NEC requirements. The 2008 NEC required the installation of combined AFCIs in all 15 and 20 amp residential circuits, with the exception of laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and unfinished basements, although many of them require GFCI protection.
In 2014, NEC added the kitchen and laundry room to the list of rooms that require AFCI circuits and any equipment that needs to be protected (such as lighting).
2008 and 2014 marked the most dramatic expansion of NEC's use of AFCI. They are now needed in almost every living area. This includes bedrooms, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, solariums, kitchens, study rooms, corridors, laundry rooms, etc. NEC has also expanded the rules for arc fault circuit breakers. Now, college dorms and hotel/motel rooms equipped with permanent cooking utensils need them.
The size of the arc fault circuit breaker is similar to that of a conventional circuit breaker. They only need to replace any circuit breaker that supplies power to the bedroom. The arc fault circuit breaker includes a separate neutral wire connected to the neutral bus in the panel. Their cost ranges from $25 to $50 (the cost depends on the panel box you own).
Chances are, arc fault circuit breakers provide the cheapest fire insurance you can provide for your home.
We recommend that consumers consider replacing their existing circuit breakers with arc fault circuit breakers, even if they have not done anything that needs to be checked. It only takes a few minutes. If you are not sure how to do this safely, please consult a licensed electrician.
As an invention, the new arc fault circuit breaker actually has the potential to save lives. Although the homeowner’s upfront costs are higher, the insurance it provides makes it very worthwhile for small investments.
When he is not remodeling part of the house or playing with the latest power tools, Clint enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader. He has a degree in recording engineering and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another for the past 21 years. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews, followed by OPE Reviews in 2017, which focuses on landscape and outdoor power equipment. Clint is also responsible for the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program designed to recognize innovative tools and accessories from all walks of life.
Makita Direct Repair Service provides users with more convenience and less downtime. Regular use on the construction site will test the limits of even the most durable tools. Sometimes these tools need repair or maintenance. This is why Makita is committed to fast after-sales service, as evidenced by its new direct repair online program. Makita designed[…]
We often receive contacts from inventors about new products-but we rarely build relationships with inventors. In this case, a friend who worked closely with the owner and inventor of the Vulcan Line Tools Wave Timer contacted me recently. As far as I know, this tool may save line workers […]
If you like tools, these Makita Black Friday deals will shock your world. All 2021 Makita Black Friday deals are now online, and some of them are great! As always, you can get a discount on the battery and tool combination kit, but even a single tool can be extended for those who wish to [...]
There are many questions about the way contractors must deal with lead paint. For some time, the paint counters of all local home improvement centers and paint shops were filled with handouts and brochures. These highlight many potential problems with lead paint. We sent our own Tom Gaige […]
What is the purpose of the crimped/swivel white wire on the circuit breaker? We ran into a problem when the circuit breaker in the new house tripped, and the electrician cut/straightened all the wires. Our circuit breakers do not trip often now (but they still trip from time to time). Is this a routine or something we should be concerned about?
What the NEC code says is completely different from what house builders do. As the owner of the completed house in 2013, I found a difficult road. Without legal remedies, you cannot take action against a county that is accused of enforcing local, state, and federal housing regulations due to sovereign immunity clauses. The builders often do not take responsibility.
As an Amazon partner, we may receive revenue when you click on an Amazon link. Thank you for helping us do what we like to do.
Please refer to our privacy policy and terms and conditions.
Pro Tool Reviews is a successful online publication that has provided tool reviews and industry news since 2008. In today's world of Internet news and online content, we find that more and more professionals research online most of the major power tools they buy. This aroused our interest.
There is one key thing to note about Pro Tool Reviews: We are all about professional tool users and businessmen!
Copyright©2008-2021 CD Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Professional tool reviews for professionals
This website uses anonymous cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs some functions, such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team understand the parts of the website that you find most interesting and useful. Please feel free to read our full privacy policy.
Strictly Necessary Cookies should always be enabled so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that you need to enable or disable cookies again every time you visit this website.
This website uses the following additional cookies:
Gleam.io-This allows us to provide gifts that collect anonymous user information, such as the number of website visitors. Unless personal information is voluntarily submitted for the purpose of manually entering gifts, no personal information will be collected.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!