ARC Fault Breakers. Your Experiences.

[Industrial Toys]

You think they would have outlawed push in terminals before making Arc Fault Protection Law.

 

[k0ua]

supposedly they are improving design as time goes on....but i still had one trip last year on a new construction job when homeowner had static shock from rayon carpet. kept having trouble. I left it up to them to swap out breaker...as i cant do it on other peoples houses...but i did on my own. i lost those **** breakers day 1 on my place after inspection.

That so far is the best answer. Keep a spare box to put all the arc fault breakers in. Replace with regular breakers. When the house goes up for sale, replace the arc fault breakers for the inspector in the states that require them. The new homeowner can do as he likes. If you are a nice guy, you can leave him the box of regular breakers. Up to you.

Of course many people would not have a clue how to replace a breaker and do it safely. Not that a trained chimpanzee could not do it you see, but many peoples mechanical ability and ability to do things safely is somewhat below that standard.

 

[k0ua]

You think they would have outlawed push in terminals before making Arc Fault Protection Law.

That would make too much sense....

 

[Scrambler82]

It was interesting reading the posting, I really don't know the difference between the two type of breakers but I have never had a problem with the Ground Fault type in my minor experience.

What is gained in the ARC Fault vs the Ground Fault ?

 

[Industrial Toys]

GFI detects an unintenional path to ground, like through your radio (or hairdryer) and into the surrounding grounded bathwater it's fallen into.

An arc fault breaker detects arcing from a bad connection, that can cause enough heat to start a fire.

I'm guessing some breakers now can do both.

 

[Chris616]

If it worked it would have been fantastic. I got my breakers from Habitat for Humanity (Home Depot Returns Probably) So anybodys guess on history.

Kills me that they are so concerned about safety, yet never did anything about the dangerous Stab-Lock (FPE) breakers.

The possibility of falsing on upstream arcs is quite disturbing. Still not exactly sure why they tripped. WELDING? No arcing in that, is there?

Thanks for the good information.

Like many on TBN, we live in a place where the house will be a complete loss by the time that the fire department arrives. I weighed the potential benefit of arc-fault breakers against the cost (which is not insignificant) and decided in favour of them. In a couple of years of use we've never had a single nuisance trip of any of the 31 CAFI or combination CAFI/GFCI breakers (Square D QO type (not bought at Habitat for Humanity!))

This was done during replacement of a FPE (Stab-Lok) panel like Tom has commented on. There have been many documented problems with these panels/breakers. If you're not sure of the type of panel in your house, this site is worth a read:
The Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab-Lok(R) Panel Circuit Breaker Hazard, Repairs, Electrical Panel Replacement Electricians Directory for Stab-Lok(R) Repairs

Chris

 

[Scrambler82]

GFI detects an unintenional path to ground, like through your radio (or hairdryer) and into the surrounding grounded bathwater it's fallen into.

An arc fault breaker detects arcing from a bad connection, that can cause enough heat to start a fire.

I'm guessing some breakers now can do both.

So wht the ARC Fault Breakers have done is two things, one, raised the cost to the consumer, and two, taken the responsibility of not doing a good connecting job away from the Electrician or other person doing the job and laid it squarely in the hands of the consumer.

It is the way the world has been going for a while now.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Chris616]

So wht the ARC Fault Breakers have done is two things, one, raised the cost to the consumer, and two, taken the responsibility of not doing a good connecting job away from the Electrician or other person doing the job and laid it squarely in the hands of the consumer.

It is the way the world has been going for a while now.

Thanks for the info.

Your first point is correct, Grev, but not the second. Arc-faults act as a check on some of the electrician's work. Poor connections that generate an arc will cause the breaker to trip when it's energized and the electrician will have to find the problem.

Arc-fault breakers also protect against homeowners driving screws and nails into wires in walls and rats chewing wire insulation in attics.

Chris

 

[grsthegreat]

Your first point is correct, Grev, but not the second. Arc-faults act as a check on some of the electrician's work. Poor connections that generate an arc will cause the breaker to trip when it's energized and the electrician will have to find the problem.

Arc-fault breakers also protect against homeowners driving screws and nails into wires in walls and rats chewing wire insulation in attics.

Chris

I solved my mouse/rat chewing probability by wiring my entire 2 story house in steel flex and thhn stranded wire. Steel junction boxes also. when i built it. I have ZERO arc fault breaker and have NEVER had a breaker trip...mind you i way over circuited my own house.

 

[Industrial Toys]

ARC FAULT. Like the Airbags of the Automotive Industry.

I haven't yet wired my driveshed built years ago, but have all the conduit and BX ready for the job. Few mice and rodents around with my two cats.