AFCI breakers are not required in older homes, but they are strongly recommended. AFCI breakers provide important protection against electrical fires by detecting dangerous arcing conditions and shutting off the power before a fire can start. While older homes may not have been built with electrical fires in mind, installing AFCI breakers can help to ensure the safety of your home and family.
Yes, Square D breakers are arc fault. They are designed to protect against electrical arcs that could cause fires.
Yes, you can replace an arc fault breaker with a regular breaker. The main difference between the two is that an arc fault breaker is designed to trip when it detects an arc, while a regular breaker will not.
Yes, an AFCI outlet can be used instead of a breaker. However, it is important to note that AFCI outlets are not required by the National Electrical Code.
4.7/5
Innovative neutral connection design leads to fewer connections and faster installation, no pigtails which frees up gutter space
To help further save our customer's time and money, the Square D brand CAFI circuit breakers are now equipped with time-saver diagnostics
Homeline, 15A Single Pole Circuit Breaker
Plug On Neutral Combination Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters CAFI
1 Space Per Pole
Voltage: 120V, Bulk
Homeline 15 Amp single-pole plug-on-neutral combination AFCI circuit breaker
$234
Homeline, which I've been using for a while, has proven to be a reliable and affordable alternative to Square D QOs—the ones with the read flag in the window. The price difference for a single-pole breaker alone is about twice as expensive as the Homeline. This is a very realistic alternative due to the lower cost of the breakers, especially when installing a new load center with a big number of breakers. The load centers are almost identical to those you would receive from Square D; the buss bar is the only obvious difference. A Homeline breaker has never failed to trip when I done something foolish in my experience. Without the flag, it is a little more difficult to identify which breaker popped, but because this shouldn't happen often, I can live without it. I recently changed a Zinsco panel while switching to a new provider. With roughly 30 new breakers, 12 of which were double-pole due to baseboard electric heating, I am estimating that I saved about $150 on breakers alone and another $100 on the two panels required to replace the Zinsco. Even when I cut through a few Romex cables with a circular saw while removing a roof and dormer for an extension with some fairly shoddy wiring, the Zinsco breakers never tripped. Although Square D QO is a superior product, I am unable to justify the somewhat significant cost increase over Homeline for domestic use. I used to work as an electrical contractor, so I doubt there was a panel or breaker maker I never came across. Homeline is definitely near the top of the list.
4.7/5
Use for overload and short-circuit protection of your electrical system
Compatible with Siemens PL and ES series load centers
Single pole, 15 Amp, 120V type QP Circuit Breaker
Siemens type QP circuit breakers provide easy plug-in connections in Siemens enclosures and the time saving insta-wire feature
10,000 AIC interrupting rating
$234
I purchased a number of these breakers to use with my Siemens panel, and thus far there have been no problems. To all of you DIYers, it is NOT advised to use circuit breakers that are "compatible" (in the case of QT breakers, Murray) but not from the original manufacturer. I have read anecdotal statements online from homeowners who claim that mixed-manufacturer breaker panels can be noted at the time of home inspection and cause problems in selling a property. Siemens makes several statements in their installation guides stating that the use of non-Siemens breakers can void the warranty on the panel.Consider purchasing Siemens breakers as a favor to both you and your money.
4.6/5
Plug-on design, easy to install
QO 15 Amp single-pole Combination AFCI circuit breaker
Rated for 10,000 AIR
Compatible with QO load centers, CSED's and NQOD panel boards
Rated for 120 Vac
$234
Circuit Breakers with Arc Faults for Square D QO Load CentersThere are no electricians in this review.In a 30-year-old home with a Square D QO load center and three QO sub-panels, I installed 18 one-pole AFCIs and 4 two-pole AFCIs. A Square D 24-space Plug-On Neutral Load Center was also installed in place of an outdated 12-space sub-panel.Pros:- The quality of the breakers appears to be excellent, but in reality, a customer must have faith in Square D that the design requirements have been completed and that these breakers will last. The manufacturer's trust in the product's quality is demonstrated by the lifetime replacement warranty.They are MUCH broader, include a test button, the white and black circuit wires hook directly to the breaker, and there is an integrated 18" coiled white wire to be connected to the neutral bar, which sets them apart from ordinary (non-AFCI, non-GFCI) circuit breakers.Con:- Some electric motors, such as those in tools and vacuum cleaners, might trip these breakers. On an AFCI, the most of my electric tools work just fine, but some don't. The travel can happen right away or shortly after. Most of them will function but occasionally trip the AFCI breaker. These are erroneous trips, and Square D must address this problem. If the replacement breaker trips as well, their warranty is worthless. Since this flaw makes it hard to comply with the new AFCI code in all rooms when you have Square D load centers, taking one star off for it is a gift.Other:- You must feel comfortable working near hot wires if the breakers are to be installed in your main panel, which is often not de-electronized. Hire an electrician if not. If you want to work on a sub-panel, you might want to turn off the power before you start. About as easy to install as a light switch are AFCI breakers. Due to the absence of the pig-tail white neutral wire, Square D "plug-on neutral" breakers are simpler and quicker to install and result in less wiring clutter within a panel. However, they can only be used with Plug-On Neutral Square D Load Centers.- If purchasing a new Square D load center, choose for the plug-on design since it is compatible with both plug-on and non-plug-on Square D breakers. The black breaker assembly, where the circuit breakers are mounted, differs from the plug-on load center in that the outside breaker snap rods are made of steel (as opposed to plastic), and they are electrically connected to the neutral bar.- You should maybe re-tighten any neutral hold-down screws and existing breaker hold-down screws while you have the load center lid off because they may have become loose over time. Arcing can be caused by sloppy connections.- A homeowner can repair circuit breakers, light switches, receptacles, light fixtures, etc. without getting an electrical permit in my state.- Before ordering AFCI breakers, remove the load center lid to check for any multi-wire circuits (MWC). (Details are in the comments.) MWC circuits need two-pole AFCI breakers because single pole AFCI breakers trip if they are put on either half of a MWC.A AFCI breaker may trip during installation or shortly after; see the comments for possible solutions.Summary:Except as stated above, all 22 QO AFCI breakers operated without issue. Square D offers a lifetime warranty on the item in case one malfunctions in the future.A recently-occurring electrical house fire claimed the lives of an affluent Maryland family. Prior to the county code requiring sprinklers or AFCI circuit breakers, their house was erected. I was persuaded by that fire that it was high time to upgrade our home's breaker panels to include arc-fault protection.
4.5/5
Dual function circuit breaker
1 space per pole; Ambient air temperature for operation: 104 °F (40 °C)
Homeline, 20A single pole circuit breaker
Voltage: 120V, bulk
Plug-on design, easy to install
Compatible with all Home line load centers
Combination arc fault circuit interrupters cafi
$234
This circuit breaker includes both built-in ground fault and arc fault protection. For use with load centers without an attached neutral bar, this version has a neutral pigtail.Having said that, I've already installed roughly 12 for a home renovation. The previous owner apparently completed a lot of the electrical work themself, but they shouldn't have even had a screwdriver in their hands. It might be overkill unless your location is up to date with the codes.None of the 12 have caused me any issues. However, out of the 12, 2 continued tripping because of arcing defects in the home wiring, which I had to find and fix. Thus, I can categorically state that these are effective in terms of safety.You'll likely need to rearrange some wiring in the load center because these stick out twice as wide as a typical circuit breaker, as shown in the figure. Naturally, your neutral wire must also extend to the actual circuit breaker since both the hot and neutral connections are made there.
4.4/5
Plug-on design, easy to install
Compatible with QO load centers, CSED's and NQOD panel boards
Rated for 10,000 AIR
QO 20 Amp single-pole Combination AFCI circuit breaker
Rated for 120 Vac
$234
Circuit Breakers with Arc Faults for Square D QO Load CentersThere are no electricians in this review.In a 30-year-old home with a Square D QO load center and three QO sub-panels, I installed 18 one-pole AFCIs and 4 two-pole AFCIs. A Square D 24-space Plug-On Neutral Load Center was also installed in place of an outdated 12-space sub-panel.Pros:- The quality of the breakers appears to be excellent, but in reality, a customer must have faith in Square D that the design requirements have been completed and that these breakers will last. The manufacturer's trust in the product's quality is demonstrated by the lifetime replacement warranty.Because they are MUCH broader, feature a test button, and the white and black circuit wires link directly to the breaker, these circuit breakers stand out from ordinary (non-AFCI, non-GFCI) ones in appearance. Additionally, non-plug-on breakers include a built-in 18" coiled white wire that connects to the neutral bar. The cable in plug-on breakers is not coil-tied.Con:- Some electric motors, such as those in tools and vacuum cleaners, might trip these breakers. On an AFCI, the most of my electric tools work just fine, but some don't. The travel may happen as soon as the device is turned on or after a brief delay. Most of them will function but occasionally trip the AFCI breaker. These are erroneous trips, and Square D must address this problem. If the replacement breaker trips as well, their warranty is worthless. One point deducted because, if you use Square D load centers, this flaw makes it impossible to comply with the new AFCI code in every room.Other:- You must feel comfortable working near hot wires if the breakers are to be installed in your main panel, which is often not de-electronized. Hire an electrician if not. If you want to work on a sub-panel, you might want to turn off the power before you start. About as easy to install as a light switch are AFCI breakers. Due to the absence of the pig-tail white neutral wire, Square D "plug-on neutral" breakers are simpler and quicker to install and result in less wiring clutter within a panel. However, they can only be used with Plug-On Neutral Square D Load Centers.- If purchasing a new Square D load center, choose for the plug-on design since it is compatible with both plug-on and non-plug-on Square D breakers. The black breaker assembly, where the circuit breakers attach, is different from the plug-on design load center in that the outside breaker snap rods are made of steel (as opposed to plastic), and they are electrically connected to the neutral bar.- You should maybe re-tighten any neutral hold-down screws and existing breaker hold-down screws while you have the load center lid off because they may have become loose over time. Arcing can be caused by sloppy connections.- A homeowner can repair circuit breakers, light switches, receptacles, light fixtures, etc. without getting an electrical permit in my state.- Before ordering AFCI breakers, remove the load center lid to check for any multi-wire circuits (MWC). (Details are in the comments.) MWC circuits need two-pole AFCI breakers because single pole AFCI breakers trip if they are put on either half of a MWC.- An AFCI breaker may trip during installation or shortly afterward; see the comments for possible solutions.Summary:Except as stated above, all 22 QO AFCI breakers operated without issue. Square D offers a lifetime warranty on the item in case one malfunctions in the future.A recently-occurring electrical house fire claimed the lives of an affluent Maryland family. Prior to the county code requiring sprinklers or AFCI circuit breakers, their house was erected. I was persuaded by that fire that it was high time to upgrade our home's breaker panels to include arc-fault protection.
4/5
N/A
Both lugs at the same angle for easier wiring
1/4 in. more wire bend space than previous design
Single pole, 15 Amp, Combination type AFCI circuit breaker
Made in USA or Imported
25 lb./in. torque rating
LED Trip indicators for clear identification of last trip condition
$234
In order to comply with the 2014 NEC requirements in my location, I installed this 15A circuit breaker during a kitchen makeover to add AFCI protection to the lighting circuit. It appears to be operating without the annoying tripping that some AFCI breakers suffer. I have, on the whole, been satisfied with the Siemens brand combo AFCIs. They seem to be fairly dependable generally, with no callbacks for annoyance tripping after installation, and I've used them for numerous years on both new building and renovations. Simple things like that can cause issues for any AFCI. I once received an unrelated call from a new customer service regarding a Siemens AFCI that kept tripping. It turned out to be a loose bulb in the bedroom ceiling fan light socket. Although my cost from them is apparently wholesale, the price of the circuit breakers on Amazon was really a few dollars less than at my local supply store.
4/5
na
LED Trip indicators for clear identification of last trip condition
Made in USA
1/4 in. more wire bend space than previous design
Both lugs at the same angle for easier wiring
25 lb./in. torque rating
Single pole, 20 Amp, Combination type AFCI circuit breaker
$234
In order to comply with the 2014 NEC requirements in my location, I installed this 15A circuit breaker during a kitchen makeover to add AFCI protection to the lighting circuit. It appears to be operating without the annoying tripping that some AFCI breakers suffer. I have, on the whole, been satisfied with the Siemens brand combo AFCIs. They seem to be fairly dependable generally, with no callbacks for annoyance tripping after installation, and I've used them for numerous years on both new building and renovations. Simple things like that can cause issues for any AFCI. I once received an unrelated call from a new customer service regarding a Siemens AFCI that kept tripping. It turned out to be a loose bulb in the bedroom ceiling fan light socket. Although my cost from them is apparently wholesale, the price of the circuit breakers on Amazon was really a few dollars less than at my local supply store.
3.8/5
10 000 air
p/n BRCAF115
Switch indicator
15 amp
Non-interchangeable
120/240 VAC
1'' wide x 3'' long
$234
The product arrived exactly as described: brand new, nicely wrapped, and a close match to my current breakers. My current breakers, which are all 6 years old, were identical to this one in appearance, but they felt a little "looser" when they were placed. This may have been due to a little manufacture difference. The breaker did seat firmly and function flawlessly, so it was ultimately not a huge concern. Installing was simple: 1) Put on gloves with rubber tips; 2) shut off the main power source (using the main breaker; in my case, the breaker was situated in a panel on the outside of my home, adjacent to the electric meter); 3) the breaker box cover was removed to see all cables; 4) the problematic breaker was found; 5) Noted the locations of the retaining screws on the cables and removed the wires from the breaker; 6) took the breakers out of their holders; 7) uncoiled the white wire from the new breaker and removed it from the box; 8) attached the white wire to the spot where the old white wire was fixed; 9) connected the electric feed wires; and 10) "seated" the new breaker in the retaining holder. 11) performed a final check on the connections of the wires; 12) installed the cover for the breaker box; and 13) reconnected the main electricity.
No, not all circuit breakers need to be AFCI. However, if you have an older home, or one with outdated electrical wiring, it is a good idea to upgrade to AFCI breakers. This will help to prevent fires caused by electrical faults.
If you have an AFCI breaker, you do not need a GFCI outlet.
AFCI is not a requirement for dishwashers, but it is something to consider if you have an older home. AFCI can help to prevent electrical fires by detecting arcing and interrupting the power before a fire can start.
An arc fault breaker is a device that is designed to protect against electrical fires. These devices are typically used in homes and businesses, and they work by monitoring the current in a circuit and detecting when there is an arc fault. If an arc fault is detected, the arc fault breaker will trip and shut off the power to the circuit. This can prevent electrical fires from starting, and it can also help to protect against electrical shock.
A washing machine does not need to be on an arc fault breaker. However, if the washing machine is located in an area where there is a potential for an electrical shock, it is recommended that it be on an arc fault breaker.
An AFCI is designed to protect against electrical fires by sensing arcing conditions in circuit wiring and interrupting the power before the arc can cause a fire. While an AFCI will not protect against fires caused by other sources, such as a faulty appliance or overheated wires, it is an important layer of protection for your home. Most codes now require AFCI protection for all bedrooms, so if your home is not already equipped with AFCIs, it may be time to upgrade your electrical system.
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