GFCI versus AFCI Breakers and Aluminum Wiring

MCL

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Jan 31, 2003, 9:03:21 AM1/31/03

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I was reading about "Ground-Fault Interrupter" breakers and "Arc-Fault
Circuit Interrupter" breakers...

From the description I read about the two, it seems to me that the AFCI is
more "protective" than a GFCI... Wouldn't something that causes a GFCI to
trip also cause an arc that would trip a AFCI... I don't know...

I was thinking about putting some GFCI breakers in... I have aluminum wiring
and don't want to have to mess with pigtailing onto the GFCI outlet... To my
knowledge they do not make CO/ALR GFCI outlets... I am assuming that an AFCI
breaker is not a "replacement" for a GFCI breaker when it comes to kitchens
and bathrooms...

But, I was wondering if maybe it would be safer to replace ALL my breakers
with AFCI to have another layer of protection from the aluminum wiring... If
an aluminum-to-aluminum connection or a copper-to-aluminum connection were
to come loose I am assuming it would produce an arc of some sort that would
trip the breaker...

Thank to all with any insight on this,
Mark

Kevin Ricks

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Jan 31, 2003, 11:26:25 AM1/31/03

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"MCL" <m...@mcl.com> wrote in message
news:v3l0ha8...@corp.supernews.com...

> I was reading about "Ground-Fault Interrupter" breakers and "Arc-Fault
> Circuit Interrupter" breakers...
>
> From the description I read about the two, it seems to me that the AFCI is
> more "protective" than a GFCI...

Think appples and oranges. They were both designed with different tasks in
mind.

> Wouldn't something that causes a GFCI to
> trip also cause an arc that would trip a AFCI... I don't know...

No a GFCI will trip way before an arc could be formed.

>
> I was thinking about putting some GFCI breakers in... I have aluminum
wiring
> and don't want to have to mess with pigtailing onto the GFCI outlet... To
my
> knowledge they do not make CO/ALR GFCI outlets... I am assuming that an
AFCI
> breaker is not a "replacement" for a GFCI breaker when it comes to
kitchens
> and bathrooms...

If you can't find AL GFCI's then you must pigtail with the AL/CU type
wirnuts with the grease inside.

>
> But, I was wondering if maybe it would be safer to replace ALL my breakers
> with AFCI to have another layer of protection from the aluminum wiring...
If
> an aluminum-to-aluminum connection or a copper-to-aluminum connection were
> to come loose I am assuming it would produce an arc of some sort that
would
> trip the breaker...

NO the AFCI's are not intended for 'in-line' or series arcing. They detect
only arcs from hot to neutral or ground.
Both GFCI's and AFCI's are intended to protect people from what is plugged
into the outlets and not the house wiring. Both assume and depend upon a
good solid feed and connection in order to work properly.
Kevin

Ron

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Jan 31, 2003, 1:09:09 PM1/31/03

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An arc fault breaker has GFCI characteristics as well. Be sure that what
ever you choose is rated for the type wire you will terminate on it.

volts500

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Jan 31, 2003, 3:08:01 PM1/31/03

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"Kevin Ricks" <KLR...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:Rsx_9.66$MM3...@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...

AFCI breakers do protect against series arcing in circuits with an equipment
ground. The combination (AFCI and GFCI) breakers will protect from series
arcing in circuits without an equipment ground. AFCI's are intended to
protect the house wiring also (staples driven in too far, cable damaged
during installation).
Get it from the horses mouth: http://www.ul.com/auth/tca/fall02/afci.html

Dell Phinus

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Jan 31, 2003, 8:52:48 PM1/31/03

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"MCL" <m...@mcl.com> wrote in message news:<v3l0ha8...@corp.supernews.com>...

Read up on the AFCIs; I don't think there are any that will trip on a
series arc, the kind you are describing as coming loose. I believe
all they can detect is a line to neutral or line to ground arc.

Dell Phinus

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Jan 31, 2003, 9:41:46 PM1/31/03

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"MCL" <m...@mcl.com> wrote in message news:<v3l0ha8...@corp.supernews.com>...

Check here for info on AFCIs:
http://www.mikeholt.com/htmlnews/nec/pdf/truthaboutafci.pdf

Wade

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Jan 31, 2003, 11:11:53 PM1/31/03

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Good reference, thanks.

artemus jameson

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Feb 1, 2003, 11:20:31 AM2/1/03

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MCL wrote:
>
> I was reading about "Ground-Fault Interrupter" breakers and "Arc-Fault
> Circuit Interrupter" breakers...
>

>

> Thank to all with any insight on this,
> Mark

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artemus jamesson

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Feb 1, 2003, 12:20:56 PM2/1/03

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MCL wrote:
>
> I was reading about "Ground-Fault Interrupter" breakers and "Arc-Fault
> Circuit Interrupter" breakers...
>

>

> Thank to all with any insight on this,
> Mark

--
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