Most of my reading seemed to imention AFCI but that it wasn’t actually in use. Now I’m catching up some more and it appears that it is in use. However, its quite specific to use in bedrooms. I am doing some rewiring and am rethinking my plan.
I was going to combine one bedroom and the living room on one 15A circuit and the second bedroom and the dining room on one 15A circuit. These rooms are all adjacent to each other. Is there a problem to having these circuits on AFCI breakers?
The alternative would be to pair the two bedrooms together onto an AFCI breaker and pair the dining room and living room together onto a standard breaker. I already have some of the wiring in place so I would like to not do that. Is there any problem to keeping the wiring as is and adding two AFCI breakers? I am willing to spend the extra $40 for the AFCI breaker and not repull a bunch of wires.
eric
Replies
There is no problem with using the AFCI or other circuits.
However, check with the local code authorities about there use.
Not all areas have adopted there use. And those that have there are several different version about exactly what needs to be AFCI protected.
You're screwed. If you want to meet the requirements of the NEC, that is.
NEC says the dining room receptacle outlets have to be on a 20 amp small appliance circuit (either one of those serving the kitchen countertops receptacles, or another 20A circuit with only dining room receptacle outlets on it). The reason--people sometimes plug a cooking appliance like a toaster (big amp draw) in the dining room.
I don't know how often people do that these days, but it's the Code.
The better way in my opinion is to put the bedrooms on AFCI-protected circuits. One bedroom per 15A circuit, or two for a 20A circuit, if they're resonable size rooms (i.e., not too big). Remember 2002 Code requires all bedroom outlets (lights, receptacles, smoke detectors) to be on an AFCI-protected circuit. Many jurisdictions change that on adoption to be receptacles only.
From a practical standpoint, if you, your insurtance company, building dept, and future homebuyer don't care about the NEC, I'd say that not having a 20A circuit for the dining room receptacles is a small problem.
Putting a bedroom and another part of the house (like the living room) on an AFCI is O.K. No Code or practical issues.
Good luck,
Cliff
>You're screwed.
eh, typical. Thanks for clarifying. I'm not sure how I missed the part about the 20A in the dining room. Its no big deal to tap the dining room outlets into one of the kitchen appliance circuits. Then couple the bedrooms together onto an AFCI circuit, and the living room on its own circuit.
eric