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

Twayne[_3_]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFCI

In ,
Han typed:
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?

They've designed to be neglected by bozos like you. What kind of PM would
YOU do?