Circuit Breakers

R

Rick

Guest
I'm building a new house and I've being told by the local electrical
inspector that I need to have an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker for any circuits
in bedrooms. I was wondering what does this type of breaker do I would
think that it's something like the Ground Fault outlets that you see in
Bathrooms or outside
Rick
 
It is a specialized breaker that will trip on an overcurrent event, or the
"signature" of an arc fault irrespective of the current level. Such an arc
fault might be a damaged lamp cord, loose connection, defective appliance
that is producing a heat generating arc with current flow that is less than
required to trip the breaker in an overcurrent mode. The idea is to trip the
breaker before the arc can start a fire.

Google "arc fault breaker" for a ton of information on the subject.

Louis--
*********************************************
Remove the two fish in address to respond


"Jamie" <jamie_5_not_valid_after_5_Please@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1030hac8j2mvmaa@corp.supernews.com...
hmm, arc fault breaker?
thats a new one on me.
maybe he is talking about a GFI ?
the last GFI i saw has the option to
clamp and open the breaker at the outlet
in the event of lightling hits etc and gounding
problems or miss wired devices.


Rick wrote:

I'm building a new house and I've being told by the local electrical
inspector that I need to have an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker for any
circuits
in bedrooms. I was wondering what does this type of breaker do I would
think that it's something like the Ground Fault outlets that you see in
Bathrooms or outside
Rick
Click to expand...
 
hmm, arc fault breaker?
thats a new one on me.
maybe he is talking about a GFI ?
the last GFI i saw has the option to
clamp and open the breaker at the outlet
in the event of lightling hits etc and gounding
problems or miss wired devices.


Rick wrote:

I'm building a new house and I've being told by the local electrical
inspector that I need to have an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker for any circuits
in bedrooms. I was wondering what does this type of breaker do I would
think that it's something like the Ground Fault outlets that you see in
Bathrooms or outside
Rick
Click to expand...
 
Ok if this type of breaker trips on a short (damaged lamp cord) then what's
the difference between a high resistance short (lamp cord) and say turning
on a light to an ohm meter there both a short of some degree


"Louis Bybee" <louistroutbybee@comcasttrout.net> wrote in message
news:E%XXb.43577$uV3.84784@attbi_s51...
It is a specialized breaker that will trip on an overcurrent event, or the
"signature" of an arc fault irrespective of the current level. Such an arc
fault might be a damaged lamp cord, loose connection, defective appliance
that is producing a heat generating arc with current flow that is less
than
required to trip the breaker in an overcurrent mode. The idea is to trip
the
breaker before the arc can start a fire.

Google "arc fault breaker" for a ton of information on the subject.

Louis--
*********************************************
Remove the two fish in address to respond


"Jamie" <jamie_5_not_valid_after_5_Please@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1030hac8j2mvmaa@corp.supernews.com...
hmm, arc fault breaker?
thats a new one on me.
maybe he is talking about a GFI ?
the last GFI i saw has the option to
clamp and open the breaker at the outlet
in the event of lightling hits etc and gounding
problems or miss wired devices.


Rick wrote:

I'm building a new house and I've being told by the local electrical
inspector that I need to have an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker for any
circuits
in bedrooms. I was wondering what does this type of breaker do I
would
think that it's something like the Ground Fault outlets that you see
in
Bathrooms or outside
Rick
Click to expand...
 
i just looked and it seems to be a very expensive elaborate breaker.
paying $80.00 on the average for a Square D Home line is not my way
of thinking per breaker.
i just wonder how many fault trips it causes depending on the equipment
connected to it.
i suppose if the electronics is designed to force a trip from a
transient pulse that normally wouldn't trip a thermal breaker would
make some sense.


Rick wrote:

Ok if this type of breaker trips on a short (damaged lamp cord) then what's
the difference between a high resistance short (lamp cord) and say turning
on a light to an ohm meter there both a short of some degree


"Louis Bybee" <louistroutbybee@comcasttrout.net> wrote in message
news:E%XXb.43577$uV3.84784@attbi_s51...

It is a specialized breaker that will trip on an overcurrent event, or the
"signature" of an arc fault irrespective of the current level. Such an arc
fault might be a damaged lamp cord, loose connection, defective appliance
that is producing a heat generating arc with current flow that is less

than

required to trip the breaker in an overcurrent mode. The idea is to trip

the

breaker before the arc can start a fire.

Google "arc fault breaker" for a ton of information on the subject.

Louis--
*********************************************
Remove the two fish in address to respond


"Jamie" <jamie_5_not_valid_after_5_Please@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1030hac8j2mvmaa@corp.supernews.com...

hmm, arc fault breaker?
thats a new one on me.
maybe he is talking about a GFI ?
the last GFI i saw has the option to
clamp and open the breaker at the outlet
in the event of lightling hits etc and gounding
problems or miss wired devices.


Rick wrote:


I'm building a new house and I've being told by the local electrical
inspector that I need to have an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker for any

circuits

in bedrooms. I was wondering what does this type of breaker do I

would

think that it's something like the Ground Fault outlets that you see

in

Bathrooms or outside
Rick
Click to expand...
 
An Arc Fault Breaker will trip on an overcurrent greater than it's rating.
The time to trip is an inverse time curve. The greater the overcurrent the
quicker the trip.

An Arc Fault Breaker also will trip when it detects a "signature" of an arc.
This arc could be line to neutral or ground, with enough resistance limiting
the current below the overcurrent trip rating of the breaker. While the
current seen by the breaker might be below the overcurrent trip rating of
the breaker, thus no trip, it could be significant enough to generate
substantial heat, and a subsequent fire. The arc might also be a series arc
such as a damaged conductor in a cord where the conductor is broken, but not
separated enough to prevent arcing, or other defect (loose connections) in
the current path producing the same type of heat producing arc. An arc
welder is a perfect example of the heat potential that can be developed
without exceeding the breaker trip rating. While the arc welder is a
legitimate use of current, using one on a circuit with arc fault protection
would result in the breaker tripping even though the circuit current rating
wasn't exceeded.

Early implementations of Arc Fault Breakers were plagued by false tripping
from universal motor equipped devices, and other legitimate electrical
consuming devices. Today's Arc Fault Breakers are much improved, but some
normal use electrical devices still give them fits.

They aren't cheap, but in most cases will protect against arc induced fires.

Louis--
*********************************************
Remove the two fish in address to respond


"Rick" <rickj@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:FL2Yb.3907$Cd6.170449@news20.bellglobal.com...
Ok if this type of breaker trips on a short (damaged lamp cord) then
what's
the difference between a high resistance short (lamp cord) and say turning
on a light to an ohm meter there both a short of some degree


"Louis Bybee" <louistroutbybee@comcasttrout.net> wrote in message
news:E%XXb.43577$uV3.84784@attbi_s51...
It is a specialized breaker that will trip on an overcurrent event, or
the
"signature" of an arc fault irrespective of the current level. Such an
arc
fault might be a damaged lamp cord, loose connection, defective
appliance
that is producing a heat generating arc with current flow that is less
than
required to trip the breaker in an overcurrent mode. The idea is to trip
the
breaker before the arc can start a fire.

Google "arc fault breaker" for a ton of information on the subject.

Louis--
*********************************************
Remove the two fish in address to respond


"Jamie" <jamie_5_not_valid_after_5_Please@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1030hac8j2mvmaa@corp.supernews.com...
hmm, arc fault breaker?
thats a new one on me.
maybe he is talking about a GFI ?
the last GFI i saw has the option to
clamp and open the breaker at the outlet
in the event of lightling hits etc and gounding
problems or miss wired devices.


Rick wrote:

I'm building a new house and I've being told by the local electrical
inspector that I need to have an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker for any
circuits
in bedrooms. I was wondering what does this type of breaker do I
would
think that it's something like the Ground Fault outlets that you see
in
Bathrooms or outside
Rick
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the explanation, I guess the cost is irrelevant as I will not
pass the final electrical inspection if I don't have one.
Thanks again
\
"Louis Bybee" <louistroutbybee@comcasttrout.net> wrote in message
news:qY9Yb.336065$na.494192@attbi_s04...
An Arc Fault Breaker will trip on an overcurrent greater than it's rating.
The time to trip is an inverse time curve. The greater the overcurrent the
quicker the trip.

An Arc Fault Breaker also will trip when it detects a "signature" of an
arc.
This arc could be line to neutral or ground, with enough resistance
limiting
the current below the overcurrent trip rating of the breaker. While the
current seen by the breaker might be below the overcurrent trip rating of
the breaker, thus no trip, it could be significant enough to generate
substantial heat, and a subsequent fire. The arc might also be a series
arc
such as a damaged conductor in a cord where the conductor is broken, but
not
separated enough to prevent arcing, or other defect (loose connections) in
the current path producing the same type of heat producing arc. An arc
welder is a perfect example of the heat potential that can be developed
without exceeding the breaker trip rating. While the arc welder is a
legitimate use of current, using one on a circuit with arc fault
protection
would result in the breaker tripping even though the circuit current
rating
wasn't exceeded.

Early implementations of Arc Fault Breakers were plagued by false tripping
from universal motor equipped devices, and other legitimate electrical
consuming devices. Today's Arc Fault Breakers are much improved, but some
normal use electrical devices still give them fits.

They aren't cheap, but in most cases will protect against arc induced
fires.

Louis--
*********************************************
Remove the two fish in address to respond


"Rick" <rickj@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:FL2Yb.3907$Cd6.170449@news20.bellglobal.com...
Ok if this type of breaker trips on a short (damaged lamp cord) then
what's
the difference between a high resistance short (lamp cord) and say
turning
on a light to an ohm meter there both a short of some degree


"Louis Bybee" <louistroutbybee@comcasttrout.net> wrote in message
news:E%XXb.43577$uV3.84784@attbi_s51...
It is a specialized breaker that will trip on an overcurrent event, or
the
"signature" of an arc fault irrespective of the current level. Such an
arc
fault might be a damaged lamp cord, loose connection, defective
appliance
that is producing a heat generating arc with current flow that is less
than
required to trip the breaker in an overcurrent mode. The idea is to
trip
the
breaker before the arc can start a fire.

Google "arc fault breaker" for a ton of information on the subject.

Louis--
*********************************************
Remove the two fish in address to respond


"Jamie" <jamie_5_not_valid_after_5_Please@charter.net> wrote in
message
news:1030hac8j2mvmaa@corp.supernews.com...
hmm, arc fault breaker?
thats a new one on me.
maybe he is talking about a GFI ?
the last GFI i saw has the option to
clamp and open the breaker at the outlet
in the event of lightling hits etc and gounding
problems or miss wired devices.


Rick wrote:

I'm building a new house and I've being told by the local
electrical
inspector that I need to have an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker for any
circuits
in bedrooms. I was wondering what does this type of breaker do I
would
think that it's something like the Ground Fault outlets that you
see
in
Bathrooms or outside
Rick
Click to expand...
 
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