Arc fault breakers or arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are required by the National Electrical Code for many electrical circuits in Orlando homes. Arcs, in electrical terms, can often be an intended function, but sometimes, like when a tree falls on a power line during a storm, there can be a current discharge either between two conductors or to the ground that can be extremely dangerous. Unintended arc faults are created by a current flowing through an unplanned path, and they create an excessive amount of heat that can easily start a fire (often, these can be hotter than 10,000°F).
Your circuit panel powers your whole home! Contact us for electrical panel upgrade.
How AFCIs Protect Your Home
At Solaris Electric & Plumbing, we understand the dangers of arc faults, and we can help you make sure that your home is properly protected against such dangers. AFCIs will help reduce the risk of your electrical system becoming the source of a fire, and we can make sure that they’re installed in the parts of your home where they’re needed. Our electricians are all licensed, professionally trained, and extensively experienced, so we can guarantee that we’ll be able to make sure your home and your electrical system are completely safe at all times.
Call us today to schedule a safety inspection, or to ask any questions you may have about arc fault breakers and your Orlando home.
What Is the Difference Between an AFCI and GFCI?
The function of a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) is to protect people directly from the hazards of electrical shocks. If you’re using an electrical appliance or tool that’s becoming energized due to a ground fault, GFCIs will cut off that power before the electricity has a chance to reach your body.
On the other hand, AFCIs provide protection against arc-faults, which can easily start fires and potentially damage your Orlando home or cause serious or fatal injury to anyone in your household.
Does Every Outlet in My Home Need to Be an AFCI
AFCI outlets will be installed by our electricians at the first outlet in a branch circuit, so they’ll be able to provide protection to the remaining outlets in the branch. You will only need an AFCI outlet to be the first in the branch.
To find out more about your home’s system, give us a call for a full inspection.
What Is the Difference Between an Arc Fault Breaker and an AFCI Outlet?
AFCI breakers are located in your electrical panel. When they’re tripped, you’ll need to reset the breaker at the panel in your Orlando home. AFCI outlets replace standard outlets, and when they’re tripped, you’ll need to hit the reset button on the outlet.
Why You Should Install an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker
Breakers are designed to prevent the wiring in your home from becoming dangerously overloaded. This is achieved by automatically shutting off when there is a short circuit or your system becomes overloaded. Arc fault breakers have the added bonus of sensing arcing in a circuit. This means they can catch sparks between damaged conductors that can lead to hazardous fires.
For professionals swapping out a normal breaker for an AFCI is relatively simple, however, we never recommend you undertake these repairs on your own. Electrical can be dangerous to handle and you want to be sure it’s done right. We start by shutting off your main breaker, then we disconnect the hot wire from your breaker in order to install the arc fault, which requires us to place both hot and neutral wires inside.