DIYbanter - View Single Post - Arc Fault protection how does it work?????

Han

terry wrote in news:7ef87189-c011-466e-8b53-
:

In another posting someone wrote .................. *Are you sure that
was a GFCI on the end and not an AFCI?"

AFIK I haven't seen one yet ................ but after all this house
and my neighbours are generally 30 to 40 years old.

A relative has spoken about them and their requirement for 'bedroom'
circuits? A new house, infill, is being built nearby and will take an
oppoortunity to talk with their electrician. I am presumng our local
code will require them for 'new construction'.

For my info however please could somebody care to explain in basic
terms how an AFCI works.

Many TIA

I am not saying that AFCIs are a bad idea, but ...
From http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/afcifac8.pdf
"Annually, over 40,000 fires are attributed to home electrical wiring.
These fires result in over 350 deaths and over 1,400 injuries each year"

If one compares the number of these deaths with other causes of deaths,
AFCIs can only prevent a very small number, even if applied to all
potential situations. Since I am guessing that most of these types of
fires occur in old housing, not new, and are exacerbated by shady
construction/renovation/illegal subdivision, it seems that only a very
small percentage of potential lives saved would actually be saved by this
new code requirement.

Question to the cognescenti: Are these devices really ready for
incorporation in the code requirements? How will they hold up after 40
years of neglect?

--
Best regards
Han
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