ARC Fault Breakers. Your Experiences.

[Industrial Toys]

It is something I don't recall ever having been mentioned here.

I don't have fire insurance, and routinely shut off the breakers in my barn. A bit of a pain. Then, I was at The RESTORE and found two brand new Siemens 15 Amp ARC fault breakers. I installed them in the panel, in the lighting circuits I use the most. Immediately, one didn't like an eight foot ballasted flourescent fixture in my storage room. A few days later, the other had tripped.

I am curious to hear, what people think of these ARC fault breakers, now mandated here in all sleeping areas. Are they just another level of nuisance in an imperfect world like GFIs?

 

[grsthegreat]

Definitely hate them. Have major nuisance complaints from customers on them. Ive had them trip from static electricity from someones hands turning off a bedroom light switch, and from vacuum cleaners. Some states like Washington require Ark Faults on ALL circuits not protected by a GFCI. THATS ALL CIRCUITS. Poor slobs.

 

[Oldoak]

When we built our new house seven years ago, ARC Fault Breakers were required in certain rooms according to our state's building code which our local municipality strictly enforced. So much for rural living! Couldn't escape the code enforcement bureaucracy.

The electrician agreed they can be problematic. I asked what to do if they became a problem. I was told to toss them and replace them with standard ground-fault breakers. Going on seven years now, so far so good. I hope I didn't just jinx myself.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Thanks. That doesn't sound very promising. I'm curious if they even protect against a mouse chewing through a romex cable and starting a fire.

 

[RNeumann]

I have arc faults and have installed them too. They were designed to prevent damage or a fire from that prototypical plug behind the bed that has 27 things plugged into it. Plus it’s getting smashed and wiggled from the bed.
I wouldn’t go out of my way to install them. Not on light circuits and for sure not in my shop. If you wanted to be extra cautious in the shop a GFCI on the connivence plugs would be the way to go.

 

[Industrial Toys]

But a GFI won't protect from arcing, live to neutral. AND, they are not an over current device either.

I wonder what about that flourescent light, upset the AFB? I have electronic ballasts I have been meaning to retrofit as the lights don't always come on immediately in the cold (meaning just above zero in this room).

 

[CobyRupert]

Not just required in bedrooms.

By Code (NEC 210.12), and with very few exceptions, arc fault circuit interrupter protection is required on every Outlet in a dwelling that isn't otherwise required to be ground fault (GFCI) protected. Required in "kitchens, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, rec. rooms, closets, halls, laundry areas or similar rooms and areas..."

Also remember, an outlet isn't just a receptacle, it's any point where current is taken to supply utilization equipment (example: a lighting outlet (box) or heating circuit, etc..).

A GFCI breaker, will also provide thermal-magnetic overcurrent protection. A GFCI receptacle will be on a circuit that has overcurrent protection.

 

[k0ua]

It is something I don't recall ever having been mentioned here.

I don't have fire insurance, and routinely shut off the breakers in my barn. A bit of a pain. Then, I was at The RESTORE and found two brand new Siemens 15 Amp ARC fault breakers. I installed them in the panel, in the lighting circuits I use the most. Immediately, one didn't like an eight foot ballasted flourescent fixture in my storage room. A few days later, the other had tripped.

I am curious to hear, what people think of these ARC fault breakers, now mandated here in all sleeping areas. Are they just another level of nuisance in an imperfect world like GFIs?

There is a HUGE thread over on EHAM about them. Seems even a walkie talkie in the house keying up will trip them. Let alone your neighbors 100 watt rig. They are a MAJOR pain to hams.

 

[k0ua]

Here you can read until you bleary eyed on this thread:

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI's)

 

[Industrial Toys]

I wonder if anyone has had cases where one AFCI was problematic and the replacement not. Or, in other words, could I have bought a couple of AFCIs that were causing someone undue trouble?