Many people are just now learning about arc fault circuit breakers. They are yet another safety measure for homeowners to protect their homes and themselves from fires.
Home fires started from faulty wiring are all too common. New electrical codes are the result of a study to determine the cause of many house fires. Different from other types of electrical safety attachments, the arc fault circuit breaker can detect arcs of electricity.
Arc Fault Circuit Breakers
Electricity flows through the wires of our homes. We already know this is never just as easy as that. There are surges of power, power breaks, or outages, and they all disrupt the flow of electricity.
When the energy arcs, it means it peaks in a place where it didn’t intend to. This arcing area gets extremely hot and this can start a fire with any particles that happen to be around it.
However, arcing can happen anywhere in the wiring and is not always as intense as some others. Low-level arcs can be just as dangerous and not always detected by other types of overcurrent protective devices.
The whole purpose of arc fault circuit breakers is to detect all the electrical arcs, even the small ones. Small ones are just as dangerous and just as deadly as the larger ones and can lead to destroyed property, house fires, and even death.
Arc Fault Detectors
The sole purpose of an arc fault detector is to protect the circuit in a way that will reduce its chances of causing a serious electrical fire. The arc fault detectors are made to find different arcs of electricity.
Arcs can occur for many reasons. Power surges, damage to wires, or any other part of the entire electrical system. Some arcs happen quite naturally, like from the motor in your furnace or other appliances, or even turning on a light.
Normal arcs are fine, but others are very dangerous. The arc fault circuit breakers are designed to monitor both. They will detect all arcs and determine if they are normal or dangerous.
Benefits of Arc Fault Circuit Breakers
It is a smart investment in your home to have arc fault circuit breakers installed. Where other types of safety measures are in place, like GFCIs protect against electrical shock, the arc fault breakers protect your home from electrical fires.
They are suited for any 15A or 20A branch circuit, so you can have them installed in every room. You don’t need to wait for your state to require them, just get them for your own safety and peace of mind.
The traditional circuit breakers aren’t designed to detect and react to an arc fault as quickly in order to avoid dangerous conditions. An arc fault circuit breaker can go beyond detecting short circuits and overloads by analyzing the unique characteristics of an event to determine whether it is potentially hazardous.
There are over 100 electrical fries across the nation every day. Many of these can be avoided by having the right protection in place. Why risk a potential hazard when you can do something to protect your home and your family?
Arc Fault Circuit Breakers
If you need more information or would like to book an appointment, give us a call today. Here at Fusion Electric, we can install them for you, check your wiring system for any potential problems, and help get your home safe against electrical fires.
We specialize in residential electrical repair and installation.
