AFCI

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#1

Originally Posted By: twheeler
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I went to a bedroom with my sure test circuit analyzer to check the afci, it did not trip. I made a Rec. that a licensed electrician should be contacted to assess further. The electrician said it is a Square-D afci and that the only way of testing it is through the trip switch at the panel.


Anyone ever heard of this, as it doesn’t make much sense to me.

#2

Originally Posted By: bbadger
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It does not make much sense to me either.


HOWEVER, it is true.

Each manufacture uses a different method of looking for the Arc signature, so a tester may or may not actually test an AFCI.

An electrician was having this same problem with the electrical inspector. The inspector was using an arc fault tester that did not trip the Square D AFCIs so he was not getting his final inspection passed.

The EC ended up getting a letter from Square D that said their AFCIs will not trip with a Tate and that the button on the AFCI breaker is to be used for testing.

--
Bob Badger
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Moderator at ECN

#3

Originally Posted By: bbadger
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Here is some info from Square D.


It is interesting to note that there as far as UL is concerned there is no such thing as a AFCI Tester there are only AFCI Indicators.

Quote:
Question A third-party AFCI tester fails to trip the Square D AFI breaker. Is the breaker bad?

Answer Perhaps not. The only UL approved method of testing an AFCI circuit breaker is to press the push-to-test button when installed in an energized load center or panel. This test injects a signal into the AFCI sensor that looks like an arc to the AFCI. A properly functioning AFCI will trip when the test button is pushed. The third-party units are UL listed as AFCI indicators (not testers). AFCI indicators may not recognize all AFCI breakers, and should not be relied on to determine functionality of an AFCI circuit breaker.

Paragraph 31.8.1 of the UL 1436 standard requires the AFCI Indicator markings or instructions to effectively state that the test button on the AFCI circuit breaker demonstrates proper operation.


You can find this info at the Square D FAQ page.

Square D FAQs

Once there type in "AFCI Tester"

--
Bob Badger
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Moderator at ECN
#4

Originally Posted By: rbennett
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All true about testing


Might also check to see if this breaker is on the recall list

Might want to get Sure test and Fox etc. in on this discussion

Are they taking us to the cleaners on products that do not work?

rlb

#5

Originally Posted By: twheeler
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I have sent an e-mail to sure test. I had also checked with square-d to the recall list, it came back that the one I tested was not on the recall list.

#6

Originally Posted By: rbennett
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good deal


sure would be interesting to see their side of the issue

#7

Originally Posted By: jpope
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twheeler wrote:
I went to a bedroom with my sure test circuit analyzer to check the afci, it did not trip.


Your next step should have been to go to the service panel and trip the breaker with its test button. Then you check to see if the receptacle is still energized.

I know - it takes a bit longer, but that's what I would expect if you were my inspector. . .

--
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738
#8

Originally Posted By: twheeler
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I did go to the panel and trip the breaker, and went to the bedroom to confirm that there was no power to the outlets, and there was not. So it appears to have been functioning as intended, or as per Square-D’s specifications.

#9

Originally Posted By: jpope
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Did you write this up as a defect? If so, how?


You are certainly entitled to inform the client of your findings with regard to your interpreting the readings of your instruments.

--
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738

#10

Originally Posted By: twheeler
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I did write it in my findings. Let me clarify.


The owner of the house is a certified electrician, he was the one who checked with square-d, once the confirmation from square-d came forth, I went to meet him, we then proceeded to test the “breaker” as instructed by square-d, then went to the bedroom to confirm, I then wrote my findings in the report, along with a copy of the report from square-d.


I try very hard to cover my a*&$.