What Is An Arc Fault Electrical Breaker?

"An arc fault breaker is a breaker that has a system in it that can detect an arc. And what is an arc..?"  

- Rodney Jessen,  Home Service Expert

 

The owner, Rodney Jessen from OutToday joins Check A Pro Joe on this episode.  Rodney talks about what an arc fault electrical breaker does. Hint - it's an extra safety feature for you and your home.

 

For more information about OutToday- log on to OutToday Heating, Air Conditioning, Electrical, and Plumbing or check them out at www.checkapro.com.

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Episode Transcript

(00:01):
You're on the check.
A pro radio show.
We get all kinds of questions and one that's crossed my desk recently is what's in our fault breaker.
It has to do with your electrical system,
that panel that's in your utility room in your garage could be in your living room behind a picture.

(00:22):
I have brought in a good friend of mine.
He's an expert in this field.
Rodney Jessen Rodney.
How are you?
I'm great this morning,
Rodney's from out today and he can help out with pretty much anything home service wise as long as it has to do with your electrical system,
your plumbing system,
your heating system or your plumbing system,

(00:43):
which is really the major systems in the home.
Correct.
That's correct.
Yes.
And also air conditioning,
even though Seattle has so little air conditioning still work on that also.
Yeah.
So a question crossed my desk here at the radio studio and that is what is an arc fault?
Ok.
So we know what fuses are.

(01:05):
They're kind of out.
We know what a breaker is that's been around.
What's this new product?
Well,
an arc fault breaker is a breaker that has a system in it that can detect an arc.
And what is an arc?
An arc rhymes with spark.
And that's basically an arc.
And,
um,
if you think about lighting a fire when we're out camping,

(01:27):
it can be lit with just a spark,
uh,
doesn't work good in the home.
If there's a spark that could cause a whole fire,
I don't completely understand the technology.
It's very sophisticated.
It's been out about 10 years,
but it will detect those arcs.
Should they be a problem with how the wire was installed?
Maybe somebody yanking a cord out by the cord,

(01:49):
uh,
whatever it will shut down the system.
Of course,
it can be reset,
it's required in new homes.
And I've been told by one electoral inspector,
uh,
nationally,
the National Fire Protection Association who writes our code has said it has cut down home fires substantially.
So it's a safety feature much like a GFCI outlet breaker is different because that came in too,

(02:17):
probably 25,
30 years ago,
maybe,
maybe 35 years ago.
And that's there also to protect the homeowner as well.
Right.
Yes.
And,
and they make a G F C I breaker.
The G F C I protects a person from shock.
So it measures the electricity leaving the electricity coming back.
If there's a difference,

(02:37):
it assumes it's going through grandma or the dog or whatever and it will shut off.
So now what they've done it's called a combo breaker.
And they made a super breaker that protects the house from overload,
protects uh grandma from getting uh uh electrocuted in the bathtub and uh uh finds arcs.
It's called a combo.
It's the super breaker.

(02:59):
Great.
Now,
can,
can uh an existing panel be upgraded.
So let's say someone's got a 10 year old panel and a 10 year old house.
Can you come in and upgrade all those old breakers?
Yes,
they have made breakers now that go into the older panels.
Hey,
that's fantastic.
All of Rodney's information is located in the description of this podcast.

(03:23):
You're just a click away from getting anything you need for your home service.
I'm talking electric.
We're talking plumbing,
we're talking heating,
we're talking air conditioning.
Rodney as always.
Thank you so much for joining me today on the program.
Thank you.