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    SFM's Avatar
    SFM Posts: 12, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Mar 14, 2007, 05:35 AM
    Arc Fault Breaker Questions
    I have a house built in 1950 and I am upgrading the fuse box to one with breakers. Thanks for your answers in advance.

    My question is do you recommend using ARC FAULT breakers for all the old wiring? I know it will cost me more but the wiring is old.

    Does an ARC FAULT breaker also do the job of an GFI breaker?

    Each circuit that you want protected with ARC FAULT has to have its own ARC breaker right? There is no technology as of yet to ARC FAULT an entire box is there?


    Thanks,
    SFM
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #2

    Mar 14, 2007, 07:19 AM
    If you can afford to protect each circuit with a AFCI breaker,that is an excellent idea. Just keep in mind that an AFCI breaker canot protect two circuits that share a neutral.

    AFCI device detects arcing faults, GFCI detects ground faults, so the purpose of each is different than the other.

    There is no whole panel AFCI detector available at this time.
    SFM's Avatar
    SFM Posts: 12, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Mar 19, 2007, 05:20 AM
    Tkrussel,

    Thanks for the quick answer. One question about your response...

    "Just keep in mind that an AFCI breaker canot protect two circuits that share a neutral."

    How would I know if they share a neutral? Would I be able to see this in the circuit panel.
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #4

    Mar 19, 2007, 07:46 AM
    If two circuits, usually a black and a red wire and leave the panel in one cable, that white wire is a shared neutral.
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