3 ms·
Not in the US, but in parts of Europe they effectively use AFCI/GFCI breakers for everything.
by hamdingers 7mo ago
Not in the US, but in parts of Europe they effectively use AFCI/GFCI breakers for everything.
- bluGill 7mo agoThose are code in the us now too. (with exceptions for where they don't make sense)
- oliwarner 7mo agoAlways important to note that "code" does not mean "must meet this standard". Many existing installations will not meet current code and there are varying levels of code (at least in the UK) that mean anything from an electrician can ignore minor faults through to network-notifiable issues. But that's rather the point here that consumers are the ones who are going to be plugging in these devices, with no appreciation for their circuits and safety devices. The only code that matters is the last version of it adhered to when their home was last wired. In extremes, that can be 40 years or more.
- bluGill 7mo agosure, but everything new must meet current code. nobody upgrads when code changes anywhere. Codes from 40 years ago were not bad, though things are always improving.
- hamdingers 7mo agoNEC doesn't specify GFCI breakers, it merely requires receptacles in certain areas have GFCI protection, and accepts GFCI breakers as one way to provide that. The conventional practice in the US is still to use GFCI receptacles rather than breakers.
- bluGill 7mo agoRight, but the NEC spec arc fault as well (i've only seen this on breakers). recepticals are cheaper and otherwise just as good.
- conk 7mo agoBecause NEC 210.12 requires all devices to be protected. Which means if you have a switch or splice before a plug the only way to protect those is with an AFCI breaker. The only exception is a continuous run from the breaker to an outlet in metal conduit or MC cable. Given how much is romex this effectively forces AFCI branch breakers.
- sgc 7mo agoI find that receptacles tend to break prematurely if they are wet locations, even if 'protected' with a weatherproof box etc. You also need to know where the receptacle is and make sure it is accessible instead of behind a piece of furniture etc. Then some electricians misunderstand and put receptacles throughout the run (much more expensive than one breaker which is about 2x a receptacle), and in edge cases you need to know the order in which to reset them to get things working again. I much prefer to just have everything in the panel.
- deleted 7mo ago[deleted]
- SoftTalker 7mo agoThey are terrible for anything motorized though. The one in my bathroom trips every time I turn off the vent fan.
- stephen_g 7mo agoWhat tripping curve do your RCDs have? That is not normal if they are the right type, really sounds like something is wrong!