Afci breaker meaning

AFCI stands for "Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter". It's a type of circuit breaker designed to detect and interrupt arcing faults in electrical circuits.

An arcing fault occurs when there's a sudden, unintended electrical discharge or spark in a circuit, which can cause a fire or electrical shock. ACFI breakers are designed to detect these arcing faults and trip the circuit to prevent damage or harm.

Here's how it works:

  1. The ACFI breaker monitors the electrical current flowing through the circuit.
  2. If it detects an arcing fault, it quickly interrupts the circuit to prevent the fault from spreading.
  3. The breaker will trip and shut off the power to the circuit, preventing any potential damage or harm.

AFCI breakers are typically installed in residential and commercial buildings to provide an additional layer of electrical safety. They're especially important in areas prone to electrical fires, such as:

In the United States, the National Electric Code (NEC) requires ACFI breakers in certain areas of homes and buildings to reduce the risk of electrical fires.