replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

Doing bathroom rewiring and had to get a new breaker for my electrical
panel. Got both the AFCI breaker b/c I figured it's basically good
insurance and looking at the details and it says "you must have a
licensed eletrician do this!". But it appears to me that it's pretty
straightforward. Wanted to make sure.

It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, the
neutral from the circuit goes into the breaker (instead of the bus),
the pigtail curly-q neutral out of the breaker goes into the neutral
bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. I'm
assuming the ground from the circuit also goes into the ground bus
(which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral).

Yes, I know to stay away from the main two incoming lines as they're
still hot, and to turn the main power off, and to be careful.

But am I missing anything else?

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

On May 31, 7:56*pm, CB wrote:
Doing bathroom rewiring and had to get a new breaker for my electrical
panel. *Got both the AFCI breaker b/c I figured it's basically good
insurance and looking at the details and it says "you must have a
licensed eletrician do this!". *But it appears to me that it's pretty
straightforward. *Wanted to make sure.

It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, the
neutral from the circuit goes into the breaker (instead of the bus),
the pigtail curly-q neutral out of the breaker goes into the neutral
bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. *I'm
assuming the ground from the circuit also goes into the ground bus
(which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral).

Yes, I know to stay away from the main two incoming lines as they're
still hot, and to turn the main power off, and to be careful.

But am I missing anything else?

Seems like you've got it handled OK. FWIW, the fussier journeymen
don't like grounds and neutrals on the same bus. Newer design panels
have larger separate buses for neutral and ground. If you want to make
an electrical inspector happy, show him an older panel with installed
extra buses for the separation. But the best argument for the DIYer
adding them is to simplify circuit changes and upgrades in future
years. HTH

Joe

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

"CB" wrote in message
...
Doing bathroom rewiring and had to get a new breaker for my electrical
panel. Got both the AFCI breaker b/c I figured it's basically good
insurance and looking at the details and it says "you must have a
licensed eletrician do this!". But it appears to me that it's pretty
straightforward. Wanted to make sure.

It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, the
neutral from the circuit goes into the breaker (instead of the bus),
the pigtail curly-q neutral out of the breaker goes into the neutral
bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. I'm
assuming the ground from the circuit also goes into the ground bus
(which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral).

Yes, I know to stay away from the main two incoming lines as they're
still hot, and to turn the main power off, and to be careful.

But am I missing anything else?

AFCI protection is for bedrooms, until the 2008 code kicks in, GFCI
protection is for bathrooms.

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

On May 31, 10:38*pm, "RBM" wrote:
"CB" wrote in message

...





Doing bathroom rewiring and had to get a new breaker for my electrical
panel. *Got both the AFCI breaker b/c I figured it's basically good
insurance and looking at the details and it says "you must have a
licensed eletrician do this!". *But it appears to me that it's pretty
straightforward. *Wanted to make sure.

It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, the
neutral from the circuit goes into the breaker (instead of the bus),
the pigtail curly-q neutral out of the breaker goes into the neutral
bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. *I'm
assuming the ground from the circuit also goes into the ground bus
(which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral).

Yes, I know to stay away from the main two incoming lines as they're
still hot, and to turn the main power off, and to be careful.

But am I missing anything else?

AFCI protection is for bedrooms, until the 2008 code kicks in, GFCI
protection is for bathrooms.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But it won't hurt anything to be above code right? The two provide
different types of protection. I've got the gfci covered

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

"CB" wrote in message
...
On May 31, 10:38 pm, "RBM" wrote:
"CB" wrote in message

...





Doing bathroom rewiring and had to get a new breaker for my electrical
panel. Got both the AFCI breaker b/c I figured it's basically good
insurance and looking at the details and it says "you must have a
licensed eletrician do this!". But it appears to me that it's pretty
straightforward. Wanted to make sure.

It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, the
neutral from the circuit goes into the breaker (instead of the bus),
the pigtail curly-q neutral out of the breaker goes into the neutral
bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. I'm
assuming the ground from the circuit also goes into the ground bus
(which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral).

Yes, I know to stay away from the main two incoming lines as they're
still hot, and to turn the main power off, and to be careful.

But am I missing anything else?

AFCI protection is for bedrooms, until the 2008 code kicks in, GFCI
protection is for bathrooms.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But it won't hurt anything to be above code right? The two provide
different types of protection. I've got the gfci covered

I don't know. You could be creating a situation that may cause nuisance
tripping

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

CB wrote:
On May 31, 10:38 pm, "RBM" wrote:

"CB" wrote in message

...






Doing bathroom rewiring and had to get a new breaker for my electrical
panel. Got both the AFCI breaker b/c I figured it's basically good
insurance and looking at the details and it says "you must have a
licensed eletrician do this!". But it appears to me that it's pretty
straightforward. Wanted to make sure.

It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, the
neutral from the circuit goes into the breaker (instead of the bus),
the pigtail curly-q neutral out of the breaker goes into the neutral
bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. I'm
assuming the ground from the circuit also goes into the ground bus
(which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral).

Yes, I know to stay away from the main two incoming lines as they're
still hot, and to turn the main power off, and to be careful.

But am I missing anything else?

AFCI protection is for bedrooms, until the 2008 code kicks in, GFCI
protection is for bathrooms.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


But it won't hurt anything to be above code right? The two provide
different types of protection. I've got the gfci covered

I'm not sure. Some AFCIs incorporate a GFI (but not at
personnel-protection levels, at equipment-protection levels.) therefore
you might end up with multiple trips if you ever have a ground fault.
You'll find out when you test it for the first time :)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

On Jun 1, 8:10*am, Nate Nagel wrote:
CB wrote:
On May 31, 10:38 pm, "RBM" wrote:

"CB" wrote in message

...

Doing bathroom rewiring and had to get a new breaker for my electrical
panel. *Got both the AFCI breaker b/c I figured it's basically good
insurance and looking at the details and it says "you must have a
licensed eletrician do this!". *But it appears to me that it's pretty
straightforward. *Wanted to make sure.

It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, the
neutral from the circuit goes into the breaker (instead of the bus),
the pigtail curly-q neutral out of the breaker goes into the neutral
bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. *I'm
assuming the ground from the circuit also goes into the ground bus
(which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral).

Yes, I know to stay away from the main two incoming lines as they're
still hot, and to turn the main power off, and to be careful.

But am I missing anything else?

AFCI protection is for bedrooms, until the 2008 code kicks in, GFCI
protection is for bathrooms.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But it won't hurt anything to be above code right? *The two provide
different types of protection. *I've got the gfci covered

I'm not sure. *Some AFCIs incorporate a GFI (but not at
personnel-protection levels, at equipment-protection levels.) therefore
you might end up with multiple trips if you ever have a ground fault.
You'll find out when you test it for the first time :)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.http://members.cox.net/njnagel- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'm confused.

From mikeholt.com
( http://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsarch...e~20021209.htm
)
Is it okay to replace a regular circuit breaker with an AFCI circuit
breaker if there are GFCI receptacles on the circuit in question?
Yes. The GFCI receptacle should not interfere with the AFCI protection
circuitry.

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

"CB" wrote in message
...
On Jun 1, 8:10 am, Nate Nagel wrote:
CB wrote:
On May 31, 10:38 pm, "RBM" wrote:

"CB" wrote in message

...

Doing bathroom rewiring and had to get a new breaker for my electrical
panel. Got both the AFCI breaker b/c I figured it's basically good
insurance and looking at the details and it says "you must have a
licensed eletrician do this!". But it appears to me that it's pretty
straightforward. Wanted to make sure.

It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, the
neutral from the circuit goes into the breaker (instead of the bus),
the pigtail curly-q neutral out of the breaker goes into the neutral
bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. I'm
assuming the ground from the circuit also goes into the ground bus
(which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral).

Yes, I know to stay away from the main two incoming lines as they're
still hot, and to turn the main power off, and to be careful.

But am I missing anything else?

AFCI protection is for bedrooms, until the 2008 code kicks in, GFCI
protection is for bathrooms.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But it won't hurt anything to be above code right? The two provide
different types of protection. I've got the gfci covered

I'm not sure. Some AFCIs incorporate a GFI (but not at
personnel-protection levels, at equipment-protection levels.) therefore
you might end up with multiple trips if you ever have a ground fault.
You'll find out when you test it for the first time :)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.http://members.cox.net/njnagel-
Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'm confused.

From mikeholt.com
(
http://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsarch...e~20021209.htm
)
Is it okay to replace a regular circuit breaker with an AFCI circuit
breaker if there are GFCI receptacles on the circuit in question?
Yes. The GFCI receptacle should not interfere with the AFCI protection
circuitry.

So what are you confused about? You asked a knowledgeable source a question
and got a definitive answer. Stop procrastinating and get some work done

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

On Jun 1, 8:10*am, Nate Nagel wrote:
CB wrote:
On May 31, 10:38 pm, "RBM" wrote:

"CB" wrote in message

...

Doing bathroom rewiring and had to get a new breaker for my electrical
panel. *Got both the AFCI breaker b/c I figured it's basically good
insurance and looking at the details and it says "you must have a
licensed eletrician do this!". *But it appears to me that it's pretty
straightforward. *Wanted to make sure.

It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, the
neutral from the circuit goes into the breaker (instead of the bus),
the pigtail curly-q neutral out of the breaker goes into the neutral
bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. *I'm
assuming the ground from the circuit also goes into the ground bus
(which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral).

Yes, I know to stay away from the main two incoming lines as they're
still hot, and to turn the main power off, and to be careful.

But am I missing anything else?

AFCI protection is for bedrooms, until the 2008 code kicks in, GFCI
protection is for bathrooms.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But it won't hurt anything to be above code right? *The two provide
different types of protection. *I've got the gfci covered

I'm not sure. *Some AFCIs incorporate a GFI (but not at
personnel-protection levels, at equipment-protection levels.) therefore
you might end up with multiple trips if you ever have a ground fault.
You'll find out when you test it for the first time :)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.http://members.cox.net/njnagel- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You cant use a GFCI outlet with a GFCI breaker. I suspect it probably
is the same using an AFCI breaker with a GFCI outlet.

Jimmie

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

JIMMIE wrote:
On Jun 1, 8:10 am, Nate Nagel wrote:
CB wrote:
On May 31, 10:38 pm, "RBM" wrote:
"CB" wrote in message
...
Doing bathroom rewiring and had to get a new breaker for my electrical
panel. Got both the AFCI breaker b/c I figured it's basically good
insurance and looking at the details and it says "you must have a
licensed eletrician do this!". But it appears to me that it's pretty
straightforward. Wanted to make sure.
It looks like the hot line of the circuit goes into the breaker, the
neutral from the circuit goes into the breaker (instead of the bus),
the pigtail curly-q neutral out of the breaker goes into the neutral
bus, and it hooks in just like the normal breaker onto the bus. I'm
assuming the ground from the circuit also goes into the ground bus
(which on my panel is on the same bus as the neutral).
Yes, I know to stay away from the main two incoming lines as they're
still hot, and to turn the main power off, and to be careful.
But am I missing anything else?

AFCI protection is for bedrooms, until the 2008 code kicks in, GFCI
protection is for bathrooms.- Hide quoted text -

But it won't hurt anything to be above code right? The two provide
different types of protection. I've got the gfci covered

I'm not sure. Some AFCIs incorporate a GFI (but not at
personnel-protection levels, at equipment-protection levels.) therefore
you might end up with multiple trips if you ever have a ground fault.
You'll find out when you test it for the first time :)


All AFCIs are required (UL) to have ground fault protection at a 50mA
level (commonly provided at 30mA). (GFCIs are 5mA.)


You cant use a GFCI outlet with a GFCI breaker. I suspect it probably
is the same using an AFCI breaker with a GFCI outlet.


As Mike Holt (link) and RBM said, you can put a GFCI outlet downstream
from an AFCI breaker.

You can also put a GFCI outlet downstream from a GFCI breaker or another
GFCI outlet.

With a GFCI outlet downstream from an AFCI (or GFCI), a ground fault
could trip both. The GFCI test button should not trip the AFCI (or
upstream GFCI).


Note that the Mike Holt link dates from 2002. AFCIs have been required,
since 1-1-08, to detect series arcs (loose connections).

In the 2008 NEC, AFCIs are more or less required on circuits where GFCIs
are not required (residential 15/20A 120V). AFCIs are not required (but
can be installed) for bathroom receptacle circuits.

--
bud--

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

In article , RBM wrote:

"CB" wrote in message
...
....

AFCI protection is for bedrooms, until the 2008 code kicks in, GFCI
protection is for bathrooms.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But it won't hurt anything to be above code right? The two provide
different types of protection. I've got the gfci covered




Please, what *is* an AFCI? (First time I've seen that name.)

And how does it differ from a GFCI?






And, what's the 2008-code that's gonna kick in sometime?






I don't know. You could be creating a situation that may cause nuisance
tripping

How so?


Thanks!

David

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

| AFCI protection is for bedrooms, until the 2008 code kicks in, GFCI
| protection is for bathrooms.- Hide quoted text -
|
| - Show quoted text -
|
| But it won't hurt anything to be above code right? The two provide
| different types of protection. I've got the gfci covered

| Please, what *is* an AFCI? (First time I've seen that name.)
|
| And how does it differ from a GFCI?

AFCI - Arc fault circuit interruptor. Breaks the circuit if it notices an
arc situation, such as a worn power cord allowing hot to contact live. A
GFCI would not trip under though circumstances. These are mainly to prevent
arcs/sparks that start fires.

GFCI - Ground fault circuit interruptor. Breaks the circuit if it notices a
differencial between hot and live, meaning power is leaking to ground
someplace up the circuit. These are mainly to prevent shocking people.

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

In article 5WX9k.38916$kx.20961@pd7urf3no, "Calab"
wrote:

Breaks the circuit if it notices a
differencial between hot and live

I wouldn't be much good as a GFCI, then.

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

"Smitty Two" wrote in message
...
| In article 5WX9k.38916$kx.20961@pd7urf3no, "Calab"
| wrote:
|
| Breaks the circuit if it notices a
| differencial between hot and live
|
| I wouldn't be much good as a GFCI, then.

Isn't that the point of a GFCI? If the power isn't passing from hot to
neutral it must be grounded someplace, hence the GFCI trips?

replacing normal breaker with AFCI breaker
 

In article o_Z9k.42869$Jx.10037@pd7urf1no, "Calab"
wrote:

"Smitty Two" wrote in message
...
| In article 5WX9k.38916$kx.20961@pd7urf3no, "Calab"
| wrote:
|
| Breaks the circuit if it notices a
| differencial between hot and live
|
| I wouldn't be much good as a GFCI, then.

Isn't that the point of a GFCI? If the power isn't passing from hot to
neutral it must be grounded someplace, hence the GFCI trips?

Here, I'll walk you through the intricacies of my awesome wit: You
mistyped "differential between hot and neutral" as "differencial between
hot and live."

Since I can't tell the difference between "hot" and "live," I wouldn't
be much good as a GFCI. (cue laugh track)

Maybe a cup of coffee would help.