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Answers To F.A.Q.
These are some of the questions I was asked by people not in the trade, but people
wanting to know how to get electrical help and know more about the work done by
electricians.
Don't expect a lot of technical explantions on how electricity and the electrical trade
work. The intention of this website is to help everyone understand electrical terms, not
cause more confusion.
Please feel free to use this FAQ. page from the Free Electrical Answers Web Site as a
bookmark, on a website, or anywhere it might be of some help.
If you do use this page on your web site a link back to the Free Electrical Answers
Web Site would be appreciated. Bob.
What is an AFCI?...
Starting January 1, 2002, The National Electrical Code , Section 210-12, requires that all
branch circuits supplying 125V, single phase, 15 and 20 ampere outlets installed in
dwelling unit bedrooms be protected by an arc-fault Circuit interrupter. Eventually they
will be in more areas but the NEC selected to require them on bedroom circuits first
because a CPSC study showed many home fire deaths were related to bedroom circuits.
The AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) breaker, will shut off a circuit in a fraction of a
second if arcing develops. The current inside of an arc is not always high enough to trip a
regular breaker. You must have noticed a cut or worn piece of a cord or a loose
connection in a junction box or receptacle arcing and burnt without tripping the regular
breaker. As you can guess this is a major cause of fires in a dwelling.
There is a difference between AFCIs and GFCIs. AFCIs are intended to reduce the
likelihood of fire caused by electrical arcing faults; whereas, GFCIs are personnel
protection intended to reduce the likelihood of electric shock hazard. Don't
misunderstand, GFCIs are still needed and save a lot of lives.
Combination devices that include both AFCI and GFCI protection in one unit will
become available soon. AFCIs can be installed in any 15 or 20 ampere branch circuit in
homes today and are currently available as circuit breakers with built-in AFCI features. In
the near future, other types of devices with AFCI protection will be available.
If a GFCI receptacle is installed on the load side of an AFCI it is possible for both the
AFCI and the GFCI to trip on a fault if the current exceeds the limit for both devices. It is
also possible for the AFCI to trip and the GFCI to not trip since the two devices could
race each other. However, in no case is safety compromised.
At first the cost for AFCI will be high. Expect to pay between $70 and $150 for each
AFCI. The cost is expected to drop as much more are ordered.
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This page was not intended to encourage electrical work to be performed by unauthorized
persons. The only intent is to give advice on what should be done by qualified persons
only.