What are arc fault detection devices.
Arc detection circuit breaker.
A conventional circuit breaker isn t sensitive enough to detect electricity arcing through the air while the arc is still too small to ignite a fire.
Afcis are designed to sense an arc which is an electrical leak caused when a hot wire touches a neutral or ground but doesn t trigger the circuit breaker.
An afci can be used in conjunction with gfci protection to provide both arcing fault protection as well as 5ma ground.
Arc fault circuit breaker afci breaker is the latest arc fault detection device its main function is to detect and identify dangerous earthing arc faults parallel arc faults and series arc faults and to drive the device operation that cut off current timely to avoid electrical fires.
Although current sensing circuitry enables afcis to detect arcing conditions unintended trickles of current may also cause the breaker to shut off afcis are very sensitive.
You may even recognize these arc fault circuit interrupter breakers with their visible test button in your circuit breaker panel.
A slow leak typically occurs when wiring is compromised but not completely shorted i e.
As long as this arc is sustained in between the contacts the current through the circuit breaker will not be interrupted finally as because the arc is itself a conductive path of electricity.
This series arc detection is beneficial to detect lower level arcing in both branch circuits and power supply cords.
Combination afci protection is required by the nec as of january 1 2020.
They use microprocessor technology to analyse the waveform of the electricity being used to detect any unusual signatures which would signify an arc on the circuit.
After having been slowly phased in over the past 3 nec code cycles these new arc fault breakers are now required on almost every 120v circuit in the finished space of the house.
When a nail punctures a wire behind the wall or a wire nut loosens and a small electrical current begins to build up heat.
Breaker afci and gfci protection.
Afdds are protective devices installed in consumer units to provide protection from arc faults.
An arc fault circuit breaker differs from a gfci in that it detects slow electrical leaks.