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LanMan · Apr 1, 2009, 12:35 PM

I am purchasing a home (built 1987). I tend to be a very safety conscious person. And with a number of years of service as a volunteer firefighter, I know first-hand the deadly consequences of a house fire.

I'm planning to have some electrical work done in the home. When having this work done I was thinking about having some (if not most) of the breakers in the house upgraded to arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). From my understanding they are safer and can reduce the risk of a fire due to arcing.

My Questions

1) Am I correct that circuit breakers can simply be replaced with AFCIs? Or are there additional electrical infrastructure changes needed?

2) Am I a crazy man (or a bit naive) for thinking of having this done?

Thanks.

Stratmando · Apr 1, 2009, 12:56 PM

The main concern is NOT to share the Neutral with another circuit, all loads must be on load side of AFCI.
Just run all circuits separate hots and neutrals.

ballengerb1 · Apr 1, 2009, 05:14 PM

ARCI are generally for bedrooms and GFCI for baths, kitchens and wet areas. Check you local building codes. You can try to install a ARCI in place of your existing breaker but like Startmando points out it won't work if the neutral has been shared with another circuit.

LanMan · Apr 2, 2009, 12:22 PM

Thanks ballengerb and Stratmando. I appreciate the input.