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Bud-- Bud-- is offline
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Default Opinions on upgrading Electrical panel...

Dan Lanciani wrote:
In article , (bud--) writes:
| Dan Lanciani wrote:

| Does something like an L14-20 outlet require AFCI protection (assuming in
| an area so requiring) since it has 120V available pole to neutral?
|
| As you likely know, AFCI protection is required for 15 and 20A 120V
| branch circuits supplying "outlets" (receptacles, lighting, smoke
| detectors, ...) in specified rooms in "dwellings". Generally receptacles
| that are required to have GFCI protection are not required to have AFCI
| protection. Older houses may have kitchen appliance, laundry and
| unfinished basement circuits that do not stray into rooms where
| protection is required. And maybe bathroom circuits.
|
| The protection would be for the branch circuit (which includes the
| L14-20 receptacle).

The question is whether the branch circuit supplying the L14-20 (let's
assume that's all it supplies) is considered a 120V branch circuit for
this purpose. It's a 240V circuit, but it does have a neutral so 120V
is available.


I was lazy and didn't look up the configuration - shoulda known the
question looked too easy....

The receptacle, for others as lazy as I am, is 120/240V, 2 hots,
neutral, ground.

My opinion is an inspector would not require AFCI protection.
(If AFCI protection was required it would have to be a 2-pole AFCI
breaker, because you can't have a common neutral otherwise.)

--
bud--