Home > Blogs > Donald Hester > Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection Blog

Why AFCI’s. Safety First

By Donald Hester

Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

September 19, 2012 11:36 PM

Why AFCI’s. Safety First- Wenatchee Home and Structural Pest Inspection Services

There is a lot of debate in the electrical community on AFCI’s (ARC Fault Circuit Interrupter). The big issue or complaint is in regards to nuisance tripping. (AFCI and GFCI basics article)

What has been shown in the findings is the AFCI have revealed that the majority of the nuisance tripping issues are related to installation problems. Bad installations practices are revealed by this technology.

Specifically the wiring practices of some electricians may include reversing neutral and ground wires, shared neutral wiring on single-pole circuits, and ground wires touching neutral wires.

It also has been shown that these initial installation issues associated with wiring errors have decreased as the electricians become more familiar with the installation and operation of AFCIs. This in itself is a very good reason to install AFCI.

Because AFCI’s detect these issues I recommend their installation on older wiring systems. These devices may detect underlying issues in the wiring systems that need to be corrected.

Here is a short Video on AFCI’s.

Functioning smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and emergency safety ladders increase a family's chances of escaping injury from an electrical fire. Only AFCIs can prevent fires from occurring in the first place.

“Good Risk Management fosters vigilance in times of calm and instills discipline in times of crisis.

Dr. Michael Ong

NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

Re-Blog

Comments(9)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I think these are going to be recommended for, and then required eventually, in many more applications than they are now. I should take a class on them.

Sep 20, 2012 04:07 AM

Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jay, They are coming. Tight now we have them only required for bedrooms. But the new code has them for all rooms except kitchen and baths.

This will add some additional time to the inspection. I have already found several homes that have not had AFCI protection where needed. Or they will not protect all the receptacles in a bedroom.

Sep 20, 2012 08:06 AM

When they require it everywhere I think it will make it more difficult to analyze the circuit for proper ground. It's too easy to trip the breaker and never analyze the ground.

Sep 20, 2012 09:01 AM

Jay, I think the circuit analyzer can already do this. It is checking for impedance on all conductors.

Sep 20, 2012 09:11 AM

Mine trips AFCIs when I test them. I have to turn off the ground check and it will analyze everything but. I have to do that to test GFIs too.

Sep 20, 2012 06:31 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Donald,

These will probably become required throughout the entire U.S.

Both AFCI's and GFI protection. I would like to see it. Still way too many homes without this protection for the occupants.

All my best. Clint McKie

Sep 20, 2012 09:55 PM

James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

AFCI's are also a very good idea when aluminum wiring is present. That would be in addition to the normal repairs.

Sep 20, 2012 10:25 PM

Jay, I manually trip the AFCI at the panel.

Clint, Once the next Revision of the NEC is adopted it will be in all rooms otherr than kitchens and baths etc...

Jim, I think they may be a telling device for many issues.

Sep 20, 2012 10:39 PM

I do it at the box and in the rooms. Just had a new condo today and all worked perfectly.

Sep 21, 2012 07:50 AM

Why AFCI’s. Safety First

Comments(9)

Donald Hester

Service Areas

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts

Additional Information