GFCI and AFCI Devices Revisited

Following up on a number of emails regarding my original article around GFCI and AFCI devices in the November issue, expanded and corrected information follows. The parallel AFCI devices were developed before the series devices. The original branch feeder AFCI breakers only detected parallel arcs. AFCI protection was originally required for bedroom receptacles in the 1999 NEC, but implementation was delayed until January 1, 2002. The 2002 NEC required arc fault protection for all outlets in a bedroom, which includes lights and smoke detectors. The 2005 NEC required that all AFCI ...