arc fault circuit breaker
GFCI Outlet
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1262299 http://esfi.org/index.cfm/page/Arc-Fault-Circuit-Interrupters-(AFCIs)/pid/11278 http://esfi.org/index.cfm/page/Ground-Fault-Circuit-Interrupters-(GFCIs)/pid/11279
AFCIs, TRRs and GFCIs can and do prevent many tragedies before they ever happen. Devices such as these have proven so effective that the (NEC) requires them to be installed in all new homes. Existing homes with aging electrical systems also can be saved greatly from these advanced technologies, which should be installed by a licensed electrician.
These devices placed into your electrical system can help reduce the risk of fires and electrocutions.
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs)
| AFCIs Prevent Home Fires
Over the last thirty years, our homes have been dramatically transformed by modern electrical devices; however, these same devices have also contributed to the shocking number of electrical fires this country suffers every year. Many existing homes are simply overwhelmed by today’s electrical demands, putting them at greater risk of arc faults and arc-induced fires.
An arc fault is a dangerous electrical problem caused by damaged, overheated, or stressed electrical wiring or devices. Arc faults can occur when older wires become frayed or cracked, when a nail or screw damages a wire behind a wall, or when outlets or circuits are overburdened.
In the United States, arcing faults cause more than 30,000 home fires each year, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries and more than $750 million in property damage. The solution to this problem is a combination arc fault circuit interrupter, or AFCI. The CPSC estimates that AFCIs could prevent more than 50 percent of the electrical fires that occur every year.
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Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
| Since the 1970s, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) have saved thousands of lives and have helped cut the number of home electrocutions in half.
GFCIs are electrical safety devices that trip electrical circuits when they detect ground faults or leakage currents. A person who becomes part of a path for leakage current will be severely shocked or electrocuted. These outlets prevent deadly shock by quickly shutting off power to the circuit if the electricity flowing into the circuit differs by even a slight amount from that returning.
A GFCI should be used in any indoor or outdoor area where water may come into contact with electrical products. TheNational Electrical Code currently requires that GFCIs be used in all kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoors.
Testing Your GFCI
GFCIs should be tested once a month to make sure they are working properly.
To test your GFCI:
If the nightlight does not turn off when the “test button is pushed, then the GFCI may have been improperly wired or damaged and it does not offer shock protection. Contact a licensed electrician to check the GFCI and correct the problem.
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Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1262299#ixzz2UbPvwlD9
