Arc Fault Breakers

What is Arc Fault Breaker & Why you need them

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are electrical safety devices designed to prevent fires caused by dangerous electrical arcs.

Arc faults do not necessarily create a sustained short circuit that causes a traditional circuit breaker to trip or a fuse to blow, but can result in hot spots in wiring that can lead to a fire. AFCIs recognize the unique signature of harmful arcs and shut off the circuit to prevent a fire hazard.

Arcs can occur along the circuit in residential electrical systems and at outlets and switches, behind walls. Hidden electrical fires can spread rapidly, delaying detection by smoke alarms, reducing the chances of survival. Conditions that trigger arc faults include:

• 
  
• Damaged wires from nails driven into walls;

• Cracked insulation on wires due to aging or stress;

• Frayed wires at stress points;

• Loose or improper connections, faulty electrical equipment; andOverheated electrical wires.

At Eclipse Electric we recommend having AFCI's installed on all general purpose circuits throughout your home, particularly in older homes where arcing hazards could have developed over several years.

We would be happy to send a serviceman by your home today to help make it a safer environment for you and your family.