I am an old home renovator w/ an electrical question. When is it appropriate to install the new AFCI circuit breakers? Is there ever a situation (bathroom) where GFCI should still be used?
In particular, I am running a number of outdoor outlets and intended to place them on GFCI breakers. Is this still advisable?
Replies
AFCIs are reguired in new construction and are specific to beroom circuits. They are not substitutions for GFCIs. Thier primary purpose is to prevent fires from small arc faults.
GFCIs (ground fault circuit interupters) detect and trip on faults to ground. Thier primary purpose is to save lives by preventing current from going to ground through a person.
NEC still requires them in bathrooms, kitchens and exterior recpticals.
Do a search of Square D web site for a good explanation of AFCIs
Dave
Thanks! Thats kind of what I suspected from my reading, but being a DIYer, I thought it best to check first.
Thanks again
I think that the confusion is that AFCI's do have a ground fault trip as part of there function. BUT IT IS DESIGNED TO DETECT LEAKAGES WITH POOR INSULATION, NOT PERSONAL SAFETY.
A gfci will trip with 5-6 ma of leakage. If I remember correctly AFCI's leakage feature trips at 60 ma, enough to kill a person.
You still want (and are required) to use GFCI at all of the "standard locations" - bathrooms, kitchen countertop, outdoors, garage, basement.
Just curious, why AFCIs only in bedrooms?
The Square D site indicated that it was because of the abundance of corded appliances (lamps,tv,radios, pc, etc) that are in bedroom. These corded devices are thought to be major contributors to electric fires starting in bedrooms. The AFCIs are suppose to reduce that risk. Anyway, that is the manufacturers hype on them.
Others think that it was the manufacturers that got them placed in the latest addition of the NEC, go figure. Anyway they are probably here to stay for new construction. Just hope the cost eventually goes down. BTW AFCIs are circuit breakers only.
GFCI protection can be achieved with either a GFCI recptical or breakers.
Dave
Thanks for the info. I will give them a try in the bedrooms as I renovate.