Arc fault circuit interrupters

[Michael LaCroix]

Do arc fault circuit interrupter cause interferance with electronic equipment?

[Mark S. Tyson]

Originally Posted by Michael LaCroix

Do arc fault circuit interrupter cause interferance with electronic equipment?

No they do not.

It is also worth noting that under the current NEC newly constructed homes will be required too have arc fault protection at all outlets that are within 60" of the floor and that are not required to be GFCI protected

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by mtyson

No they do not.

It is also worth noting that under the current NEC newly constructed homes will be required too have arc fault protection at all outlets that are within 60" of the floor and that are not required to be GFCI protected

Where are you getting this information? This is not in the NEC.

[Jim Port]

I think that is just a very poor paraphrase of the 210 requirements. It also does not follow the NEC definition of outlets. Using the 5' distance no ceiling lighting or smokes would need to be AFCI protected.

[Mark S. Tyson]

Originally Posted by Robert Meier

Where are you getting this information? This is not in the NEC.

As of January 2008 only "combination type" AFCIs will meet the NEC requirement. The 2008 NEC requires the installation of combination-type AFCIs in all 15 and 20 ampere residential circuits with the exception of laundries, kitchens, bathrooms, garages and unfinished basements.

[Mark S. Tyson]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

I think that is just a very poor paraphrase of the 210 requirements. It also does not follow the NEC definition of outlets. Using the 5' distance no ceiling lighting or smokes would need to be AFCI protected.

Your are correct a poor paraphrase. I should have said outlets that are 60" above the floor need not be a combination AFCI (tamper proof), but are still required too be AFCI protected

[Jim Port]

Tamper proof receptacles have a shutter mechanism to prevent items like keys or pins from being inserted into the device and preventing shocks. Tamper proof has nothing to do with AFCI protection and can be used on regular circuits without AFCI protection.

It would also help if you would review the NEC definition of outlet and receptacle. They are not interchangeable.

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by mtyson

Your are correct a poor paraphrase. I should have said outlets that are 60" above the floor need not be a combination AFCI (tamper proof), but are still required too be AFCI protected

The tamper resistant changes in the 2011 NEC affect receptacles above 66" not 60".

406.12 Tamper-Resistant Receptacles in Dwelling Units.
In all areas specified in 210.52, all nonlocking-type
125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles shall be listed
tamper-resistant receptacles.
Exception: Receptacles in the following locations shall
not be required to be tamper-resistant:
(1) Receptacles located more than 1.7 m (5 1⁄2 ft) above the
floor.
Informational Note Figure 406.10(B)(4) One Example of a
Symbol Used to Identify the Termination Point for an Equipment
Grounding Conductor.
(2) Receptacles that are part of a luminaire or appliance.
(3) A single receptacle or a duplex receptacle for two appliances
located within dedicated space for each appliance
that, in normal use, is not easily moved from one
place to another and that is cord-and-plug connected
in accordance with 400.7(A)(6), (A)(7), or (A)(.
(4) Nongrounding receptacles used

[Nick Gromicko]

http://www.nachi.org/arc-fault-circuit-interrupters.htm

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by gromicko

http://www.nachi.org/arc-fault-circuit-interrupters.htm

Nice Article. I would re-examine a few things in this paragraph:

Arc Faults vs. Ground Faults

It is important to distinguish AFCI devices from Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) devices. GFCIs detect ground faults, which occur when current leaks from a hot (ungrounded) conductor to a grounded object as a result of a short-circuit. This situation can be hazardous when a person unintentionally becomes the current’s path to the ground. GFCIs function by constantly monitoring the current flow between hot and neutral (grounding) conductors, and activate when they sense a difference of 5 milliamps or more. Thus, GFCIs are intended to prevent personal injury due to electric shock, while AFCIs prevent personal injury and property damage due to structure fires.

The words short-circuit should be replaced with ground fault. The NEC has added a definition in the 2011 to clarify the difference.

The word (grounding) should be replaced with grounded.

Article 100:
Ground Fault. An unintentional, electrically conducting
connection between an ungrounded conductor of an electrical
circuit and the normally non–current-carrying conductors,
metallic enclosures, metallic raceways, metallic equipment,
or earth.