DIYbanter - Opinions on upgrading Electrical panel...

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

| By current Nec, all bathroom outlets, all outside outlets, all outlets in
| unfinished parts of basements, crawlspaces, garages, within six feet of any
| sink, and all kitchen counter outlets, should be GFCI protected.
|
| This is also for new wiring. Tghere have been a lot of changes in 42
| years. But GFCIs are really useful protection and adding them is a good
| idea.

What counts as new wiring when you are replacing a panel? I assume that
you don't have to provide GFCI breakers on circuits merely because those
circuits include receptacles that should by locally current code be GFIC
(but I actually like GFCI breakers better than receptacles). On the other
hand, I assume you do have to provide AFCI breakers on circuits that would
require them by locally current code. By the current NEC and for the typical
"random" allocation of areas to circuits in older homes I would think that
this could mean pretty much all breakers have to be AFCI.

Excellent questions. I hoped Roy, John or Greg would answer.

I believe it is not obvious from the NEC and is up to the inspector.

You may have been arguing above that GFCI protection is required for
receptacles, not branch circuits, but AFCI protection is required for
branch circuits - which may work.

AFCIs are more important for older wiring, but new wiring of today will
likely become the old wiring of the future. Logically, using AFCIs in
panel replacements is more important than new installs (but it is
certainly not in the code).

If the OP replaces his panel AFCI are another question and may be a real
good idea with his older wiring..

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).

--
bud--