AFCI & GFCI upgrades

Got a call today for a broken receptacle in a kitchen in New Castle, Ky. We found that the receptacle was not only broken, but needed to be upgraded to an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) per the National Electrical Code (NEC) 210.12. While talking with the customer we discovered that, while the receptacle wasn't close enough to the kitchen sink to require a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), it was right next to the oven, and had been spilled on by food and liquids in the past. We recommended an AFCI/GFCI combination receptacle to replace it, and the homeowner agreed.

It's important to us that the service we do leaves the places and equipment in a safe condition, and that the customer understands why we recommend the equipment that we do. AFCI's are required in nearly every part of the home nowadays, and GFCI's are required anywhere near water (kitchens, bathrooms, outdoors, etc.). More important than requirements from the NEC, though, is how they make the equipment safer.

GFCI's are monitoring the current going through them, and if they sense that some of the current is going to ground (like through a person, or by an exposed wire touching something it shouldn't) then they will trip in less than a second, saving damage to people and property.

AFCI's sense electrical arcing (sparking from a "hot" or "live" wire) to something, which is the main reason for electrical fires. When it senses this it trips out, saving property, and maybe even lives.

We were glad we could make the customers home safer, and provide them with a better understanding of the safety devices involved in a modern electrical system.

Old receptacle

New AFCI/GFCI receptacle