ARC-FAULT (AFCI) PROTECTION IN SAINT PAUL

ARC FAULTS ARE ON OF THE LEASING CAUSES OF HOME FIRES. 
AN ARC FAULT OCCURS WHEN A LOOSE OR CORRODED CONNECTION MAKES CONTACT AND CAUSES SPARKING OR ARCING BETWEEN THE CONNECTIONS. THIS SLOW SMOLDERING HEAT CAN GO UNDETECTED UNTIL IT BECOMES A DISASTEROUS SITUATION.

AN ARC FAULT PROTECTION DEVICE (BREAKER OR RECEPTACLE) MONITORS THE CIRCUIT. IF IT NOTICES ABNORMAL ACTIVITY, IT IMMEDIATELY INTERRUPTS THE CIRCUIT, THEREFORE REDUCING THE RISK OF FIRE. 

OUR FRIENDLY AND KNOWLEDGEABLE TEAM OF RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICIANS ARE ALWAYS READY TO ENSURE YOUR HOME HAS THE LATEST SAFETY FEATURES. CALL TODAY AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT.

COMMON AREAS OF ARC FAULT ISSUES

Electrical cords accidentally damaged by furniture resting or pressing on them

Overused or poorly installed devices that can cause loose connections.

Screws or nails driven into wires while hanging pictures or a TV.

Arc Faults can also be found in light fixtures, appliances that go undetected until there is an issue.

INCREASED PROTECTION FOR ELECTRICAL FIRES

UNDERSTANDING THE COMPONENTS OF YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
ARC-FAULT (AFCI) BREAKERS ARE DIFFERENT FROM CONVENTIONS BREAKERS AND GROUND FAULT (GFCI).
CONVENTIONAL BREAKERS ONLY RECOGNIZES OVERLOADS AND SHORT CIRCUITS, AND WON'T RESPOND TO ARC FAULTS. WHILE GROUND FAULT TECHNOLOGY INTERRUPTS THE POWER TO PREVENT SHOCK (WHY THEY ARE LOCATED NEAR WATER OR DAMP AREAS).

"NUISANCE TRIPPING"

AS WITH ANY NEW TECHNOLOGY OR PRODUCT THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS MADE AS ISSUES ARISE. IF YOU HAVE HAD AFCI PROTECTION INSTALLED EARLY IN THE PRODUCTS RELEASE YOU MAY BE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS OF "NUISANCE TRIPPING". 
"NORMAL" ARCING THAT OCCURS WITHIN MOTOR-DRIVEN APPLIANCES (VACUUM CLEANERS, CEILING FANS, TREADMILLS) WOULD CAUSE THE AFCI TO TRIP CREATING A FRUSTRATING SITUATION FOR BOTH HOMEOWNERS AND ELECTRICIANS.
MANUFACTURERS WORKED TO REFINE THE TECHNOLOGY. NOW, FOR THE MOST PART AFCI PROTECTION RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NORMAL AND DANGEROUS ARCING CONDITIONS.​

WHY AFCI PROTECTION MAKES SENSE

OLDER WIRING SYSTEMS SUCH AS KNOB AND TUBE WIRING WERE INSTALLED SHARING A NEUTRAL WIRE BETWEEN CIRCUITS. a SHARED NEUTRAL CONDITION WILL CAUSE THE AFCI DEVICE TO TRIP WHEN THINGS ARE TURNED ON OR PLUGGED IN.
LIKEWISE, AFCI DEVICES WILL DETECT ARCING THAT RESULTS FROM DETERIORATING ALUMINUM WIRE CONNECTIONS TO THE COPPER TERMINALS OF SWITCHES, OUTLETS, OR FIXTURES.
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IF THE AFCI TRIPS IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS DOING IT'S JOB TO KEEP YOU SAFE, ALERTING YOU TO A PROBLEM!
IF YOU ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH ARC FAULT PROTECTION, TRY TO TAKE NOTE IF IT HAPPENS WHEN SOMETHING IS TURNED ON OR PLUGGED IN TO HELP IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL RISK.

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH ARC FAULT PROTECTION OR INTERESTED IN ADDING IT TO YOUR HOME, CONTACT OUR TEAM OF SAFETY EXPERTS TODAY!