Benefits of Arc Fault Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) are needed. Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders are all examples of emergency equipment used in homes to take action when a fire occurs. An AFCI is a product that is designed to detect a wide range of arcing electrical faults to help reduce the electrical system from being an ignition source of a fire. Conventional over-current protective devices do not detect low level hazardous arcing currents that have the potential to initiate electrical fires. It is well known that electrical fires do exist and take many lives and damage or destroy significant amounts of property. Electrical fires can be a silent killer occurring in areas of the home that are hidden from view and early detection. The objective is to protect the circuit in a manner that will reduce its chances of being a source of an electrical fire. http://www.afcisafety.org/qa.html
AFCIs breakers are required now for most circuits in a residence. Replacing them with old style breakers would be a code violation, and could leave your insurance company with an "out" if something catastrophic happens.
nuisance arc fault breaker Tripping
Online article resources
SQUARE D ARC FAULT CIRCUIT BREAKERS RECALLEDNov 03, 2004
11-03-04 -- In voluntary cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Schneider Electric North American Division of Palatine, Illinois, is recalling about 700,000 Square D arc fault interrupter (AFI) circuit breakers manufactured in Mexico between March 1, 2004, and September 23, 2004. The manufacturer is investigating one reported fire during a new home construction that may be related to these products; however, no injuries have been reported.The AFCI circuit breakers subject to this recall have one of the following date codes – CN, DN, EN, FN, GN, HN, or JN – stamped in red on the breaker label located just above the wiring terminal. The recalled units also have one of the following catalog numbers printed on a label on the front of the breaker: QO115AFI, QO115AFIC, QO120AFI, QO120AFIC, QOB115AFI, QOB120AFI, HOM115AFI, HOM115AFIC, HOM120AFI, HOM120AFIC, QO115VHAFI, QO120VHAFI, QOB115VHAFI, or QOB120VHAFI. The recalled units have a blue test button.- See more at: http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/news/2004/11/03/square-d-arc-fault-circuit-breakers-recalled#sthash.ZUqBr3iu.dpuf
ARRL Helps Manufacturer to Resolve Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter RFI Problems http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-helps-manufacturer-to-resolve-arc-fault-circuit-interrupter-rfi-problems
Homeowner's guide to preventing electrical fires
More than 40,000 electrical fires occur in homes every year, resulting in hundreds of deaths, 1,000 plus injuries and more than a billion dollars in property damages.
Benefits of Arc Fault Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) are needed. Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders are all examples of emergency equipment used in homes to take action when a fire occurs. An AFCI is a product that is designed to detect a wide range of arcing electrical faults to help reduce the electrical system from being an ignition source of a fire. Conventional over-current protective devices do not detect low level hazardous arcing currents that have the potential to initiate electrical fires. It is well known that electrical fires do exist and take many lives and damage or destroy significant amounts of property. Electrical fires can be a silent killer occurring in areas of the home that are hidden from view and early detection. The objective is to protect the circuit in a manner that will reduce its chances of being a source of an electrical fire. http://www.afcisafety.org/qa.html
AFCIs breakers are required now for most circuits in a residence. Replacing them with old style breakers would be a code violation, and could leave your insurance company with an "out" if something catastrophic happens.
nuisance arc fault breaker Tripping
Online article resources
SQUARE D ARC FAULT CIRCUIT BREAKERS RECALLEDNov 03, 2004
11-03-04 -- In voluntary cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Schneider Electric North American Division of Palatine, Illinois, is recalling about 700,000 Square D arc fault interrupter (AFI) circuit breakers manufactured in Mexico between March 1, 2004, and September 23, 2004. The manufacturer is investigating one reported fire during a new home construction that may be related to these products; however, no injuries have been reported.The AFCI circuit breakers subject to this recall have one of the following date codes – CN, DN, EN, FN, GN, HN, or JN – stamped in red on the breaker label located just above the wiring terminal. The recalled units also have one of the following catalog numbers printed on a label on the front of the breaker: QO115AFI, QO115AFIC, QO120AFI, QO120AFIC, QOB115AFI, QOB120AFI, HOM115AFI, HOM115AFIC, HOM120AFI, HOM120AFIC, QO115VHAFI, QO120VHAFI, QOB115VHAFI, or QOB120VHAFI. The recalled units have a blue test button.- See more at: http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/news/2004/11/03/square-d-arc-fault-circuit-breakers-recalled#sthash.ZUqBr3iu.dpuf
ARRL Helps Manufacturer to Resolve Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter RFI Problems http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-helps-manufacturer-to-resolve-arc-fault-circuit-interrupter-rfi-problems
Homeowner's guide to preventing electrical fires
More than 40,000 electrical fires occur in homes every year, resulting in hundreds of deaths, 1,000 plus injuries and more than a billion dollars in property damages.
