The NEC has recently required the use of Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters to be installed in all new construction homes. To most people this just means added cost to the electrical quote when it comes time to build but it really means added safety to the home and the family that buys it. AFCI’s operate much like a GFCI that most people have seen in the kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor outlet. A GFCI senses the amount of current going out the hot and coming back the neutral (the path it is supposed to take) and if the amount of current going out does not match the amount coming back then it must be going somewhere it shouldn’t and the device interrupts the flow of electricity. This device protects people from getting electrocuted.
An AFCI breaker senses erratic current flow caused by arcing. Arcing is usually caused by defective or worn electrical cords or devices that use electricity. Electrical arcing is also the most common cause of fires and can lead to total loss of ones home or even worse. This device can prevent much of the possibility of electrical fires and should be viewed as a great benefit to the home buyer and not an added expense. Contact a residential electrician today to see if this makes sense for your home and your family.
