http://www.bsafeelectrix.com/faq.htm
Frequently Asked Questions
**1. What causes the BSafeTM Outlet to trip and shut off electrical current to the load?**
Multi-sensors in the outlet are preset to trip a contact switch in the outlet when abnormal temperature is detected at the binding head screw terminals and / or at the outlets.
**2. Can an electrical fire occur at a receptacle outlet that has no load plugged into it?**
*Yes.* In a electrical branch circuit, wiring is connected from one outlet to another via the feed thru straps onthe binding head screw terminals. If a thermal fault exists at a loose wiring screw connection on a outlet that is not drawing current from a load plugged into its outlet, but has current passing through its screw connections from a load in a outlet located on the downstream side of the branch circuit, then, fire could start in the “faulted outlet”. It is recommended that each standard outlet in abranch circuit be replaced with a BSafe TFCI™ outlet.
**3. Do circuit breakers and fuses protect against all electrical fires?**
*Absolutely not.* This is a popular misconception. Your circuit breakers and fuses are tripped or blown when a circuit is overloaded. Overcurrent protection devices do not monitor the actual temperature at a outlet.
**4. Do GFCIs (outlets with a test button, usually found in a bathroom and kitchen or near a sink) prevent electrical fires?**
*Another popular misconception!* Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are not designed to detect heat or prevent fires. They are designed to detect electrical current leakage and prevent electrocution, so that when a person becomes the path for an electrical current, as opposed to its usual circuit path, the circuit will shut down. Thermal faults normally do not leak any current or cause electrocution, and therefore are not detected by GFCIs.
**5. Do the Standard Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) Circuit Breakers protect against fire?**
Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) are designed to detect an arcing or jumping of electricity from one point to another (e.g., if someone hammers a nail through a wire). A voltage arc that may jump from part of wire to the nail would be detected. However, an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) device will not detect a thermal condition in most series circuits or high resistance connections at an outlet. UL Standard 1699 for AFCI's specifically states that the **AFCI does not detect glowing connections.**
**6. If the BSafe outlet is tripped, what steps should be taken?**
A tripped outlet means that there was an overheating problem and that a potential fire has been prevented. A qualified electrician should be called to check and repair all of the possible causes of the overheating. The tripped outlet should be replaced with a new BSafe outlet.
**7. Does my Combination AFCI-Circuit Breakers in my new home protect me from all electrical fires?**
*Not all.* This recently developed innovative circuit breaker product is designed to protect against various arc fault, i.e., series and/or parallel, conditions in electrical wiring that could result in a fire, if not detected. However the combination AFCI Circuit Breaker will not prevent an electrical fire resulting from a series arcing "signature", known as a Glowing Connection. UL Standard 1699 Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter specifically states that “these devices do not detect a glowing connection".
BSafe's thermal sensor technology will protect the home against fire by sensing an abnormal heat condition that will occur as a result of High Resistance Connections in the outlet, a precursor to a glow condition. BSafe's outlet with TFCI™ protects against the occurrence of fire by detecting an abnormal heat condition early in the failure mode sequence shutting off the power before ignition.
**8. Why should the consumer pay a higher price for an outlet?
Answer 1:**
***For peace of mind and the future safety of your family.*** Until now, all outlets available for installation in our home are the “standard” type. None provide and act on a “abnormal heat - early warning”, a precursor to a fire event, shutting off the power to the outlet to prevent a potential fire. All it takes to cause a fire is one or a combination of wiring deficiencies undetected in a wall outlet, i.e., faulty installation / loose wiring connections, wear and tear of the outlets through use, and “vibration” emanating from the local environment.
Today, you can install in your home a BSafe outlet with the enhanced feature of thermal interruption that will automatically detect overheating and shut off the power to a **hot wall outlet**, protecting your home and your family from the threat of a potential fire.
**Answer 2:
**If the average size home has 40 outlets, would you pay an additional $240.00 to protect your family against a potential catastrophic fire?
**9. Can a BSafe Electrix outlet replace a GFCI or AFCI?**
*No. *For selected applications, a GFCI, and AFCI, is required by code, and can not be replaced by a BSafe outlet.
A GFCI outlet does not respond to over- temperature conditions. It is a device which ONLY trips when "leakage current" exceeds approximately 5ma.
An AFCI is not available in a standard outlet, only as a combination Circuit Breaker. It works by recognizing various arcing signatures and as noted in question nos. 5 and 7, an AFCI will not recognize a series arcing, “**glowing connection**” condition.
On the other hand, the BSafe outlet responds to absolute temperature. Regardless of the cause, once the temperature at the wiring screw terminals and / or the outlets exceed the allowable range, the **outlet will trip**, shutting off the load plugged into it.
**10. Can a BSafe outlet be "daisy chained" for wiring outlets downstream?**
The BSafe wall outlet is provided with pigtail leads which allow it to be wired to the supply source leads and downstream leads with UL Listed wire connectors. Instructions for making a proper installation are also provided with the outlet.