Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters or AFCI’s and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters or GFCI’s are distinctively two different important safety devices serving completely different purposes.  AFCI’s are designed to prevent fires and GFCI’s are designed to prevent electrical shock. Combination devices integrating AFCI and GFCI protection together inside one unit are anticipated to be manufactured and become available in the near future.

When AFCI and GFCI protection are used in conjunction with each other, your home is protected using the most modern level of fire protection and electrical shock devices available.  If you have any questions or need assistance with AFCI breaker protection and GFCI outlet installation in your home, call or e-mail your personal electricians at KNG Electrical Services providing FREE estimates always! 603-625-0086.

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter - AFCI Information

As documented by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, home wiring problems like arcing and sparking cause more than 40,000 residential fires, annually. The fires take over 350 lives and injure 1,400 victims a year. An electrical safety device for homes, known as an arc fault circuit interrupter or AFCI, is hoped to afford greater protection from fires resulting from unsafe home wiring conditions.

Conventional household fuses and circuit breakers do not respond to early arcing and sparking conditions in home wiring. By the time a fuse or circuit breaker opens a circuit to defuse these conditions; a fire may already have begun. Several years ago, a CPSC study identified arc fault detection as a promising new technology. Since then, CPSC electrical engineers have tested the new AFCI’s on the market and found these products to be effective.

Are AFCI’s required

AFCI’s have been tested and proven to be effective devices in preventing house fires.  As of January 2002 the National Electrical Code requires AFCI’s for bedroom circuits in basements, new residential construction and remodels.  Future editions of the NEC, which updates every three years, will most likely broaden coverage to include more than just bedroom circuits taking place after the adoption of the 2008 NEC.

Should You Install AFCI’s

You may desire to add AFCI protection for added peace of mind. Homes built before 2002 with conventional circuit breakers will profit from the added defense against arc faults occurring within aging wiring systems.

To find out more about AFCI’s, contact your local electrical supply store, your trusted electricians, or even the manufacturer of the circuit breakers currently installed inside your home. At times your existing circuit breakers can be replaced with AFCI circuit breakers utilizing your existing electrical panel box.

WARNING: AFCI’s and their applications should only be performed by licensed electrical contractors; do not let unlicensed entities perform these installations and please do not perform these installations yourself. These applications involve working with circuit panel boxes that are electrically live even though the main circuit breakers are turned off. To find out more call 603-625-0086.

 Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters - AFCI Types

Branch/Feeder AFCI’s: are installed at the source of the branch circuit and or feeder like at the panel board for instance providing protection to the branch circuit wiring and feeder wiring against arc faults.  Branch Feeder AFCI’s also provide protection to branch circuit extension wiring. Branch Feeder AFCI’s typically are circuit breaker with AFCI integration or of independent enclosures mounted at or beside a panel board.

Combination AFCI’s: are devices manufactured to meet both the requirements for  branch/feeder and outlet circuit designed to protect downstream branch circuit wiring, cord sets and power supply cords.

Cord AFCI’s: are plug in devices manufactured to connect to a receptacle outlet, to provide protection to the power-supply cord connected to it against arc faults. The cord maybe part of the device and the device has no added outlets.

Outlet Circuit AFCI’s: are installed at branch circuit outlets and or receptacles to provide protection to power supply cords and the power cords connected to them providing protection against arc faults. Outlet Circuit AFCI’s also provide feed through protection of the cord sets and power supply cords connected to receptacles further down.

Portable AFCI’s: are plug in devices manufactured to connect to a receptacle outlet to provide the user with one or more outlets. It is designed to provide protection to connected cord sets and power supply cords against arc faults.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter - GFCI Information

Outdoor outlets, kitchens outlets and bathroom outlets and all other areas subject or adjacent to water should be of the ground fault circuit interrupting design GFCI.

Ground fault circuit interrupters or GFCI’s are devices designed to protect against electric shock when installed in electrical circuits. It is estimated that 200 of the 300 electrocutions that happen each year inside and around the home can be avoided with properly installed GFCI devices.

GFCI’s are designed to safeguard people and pets from harsh and sometimes deadly electrical shock by detecting ground faults and when one is present these devices then interrupt the surge of electrical current. A running hairdryer is accidentally knocked off the bathroom counter and into a bathtub filled with water. If the hairdryer is plugged into a properly installed GFCI the flow of electricity will be stopped instantly within milliseconds of the hair dryer hitting the water’s surface. Had someone been in the bathtub at the time of the mishap although a painful shock may have been encountered the GFCI would prevent the electrical shock from escalating into a serious injury or worse their electrocution.

How Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters Work

GFCI’s continuously monitor the electrical current flowing inside a circuit looking for any loss of current. When the electrical current passing through the circuit become inconsistent, fluctuating by even a minuscule in the quantity from that which is returning to complete the circuit, the GFCI instantly stops the power to the circuit. The GFCI disrupts the power within milliseconds avoiding deadly doses of electricity from being administered.

Testing a GFCI Outlet

GFCI’s should be tested at least once a month to be sure they are in proper operating and working order. GFCI outlets should also be tested immediately upon installation to assure proper operation and protection of the electrical circuit. Testing a GFCI protected outlet is outlined here:

1. Plug a small lamp into a GFCI protected outlet
2. Turn the lamp on confirming the light bulb is lit
3. Push the “TEST” button on the GFCI, the "RESET" button should pop out and the light bulb should go out
4. Push the "RESET" button to restore power to the outlet
5. If steps 1-4 worked appropriately, the GFCI protected outlet is functioning properly and no further actions are necessary

If the "RESET" button does not pop out, the GFCI is faulty and should be replaced. If the "RESET" button pops out but the light does not go out, the GFCI has been wired inappropriately; you should contact a licensed electrician to correct the wiring mistakes. Consult your "Residential Electrical Experts" at 603-625-0086 for help with GFCI applications.

Types of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters - GFCI

Receptacle GFCI’s: are used in place of conventional wall outlets or duplex receptacles. GFCI’s are typically found throughout the house in places like bathrooms, garages, kitchens, outdoor areas and other locations where damp conditions exist or have the potential to exist. GFCI receptacles fit inside the standard outlet box protecting you against ground faults when electrical products are plugged into them. Modern homes use GFCI’s to protect other electrical outlets connected on the same branch circuit, like a bathroom outlet downstairs not working because something tripped the GFCI in the upstairs bathroom.

Temporary/Portable GFCI’s: When permanent GFCI’s are not practical, temporary GFCI’s are used. Temporary GFCI’s contain the GFCI circuitry in an enclosure with plug prongs in the back and receptacle plugs in the front. These can be plugged into an unprotected outlet providing GFCI protection to the electrical appliance and or device plugged into it. Portable GFCI’s quite simply are extension cords with GFCI circuitry integrated into them providing flexibility utilizing receptacles that are not protected with GFCI technology.  Extension cords with GFCI protection are great when permanent or portable GFCI protection is unavailable.

Circuit Breaker GFCI’s: Homes equipped with circuit breakers can have circuit breaker GFCI protection installed in the electrical panel providing protection to specific circuits. Circuit breaker GFCI’s serve two functions. The circuit breaker GFCI will shut the power off to the circuit the instance a ground fault is detected and also turn the power off if a short circuit or overload is presented.