Jerry Simon Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Same labeled in panelboard as protecting bedroom outlets. Kosher? Cost-saving measure versus individual 120-volt AFCI breakers? Reason I surmise cost-saver, it's in a 2005 high-rise with 100's of condo units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Never heard of a 240V AFCI breaker, but if it provides AFCI protection to a subpanel and is listed for use as such, I don't see any problem with it. Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 I'm thinking it's probably two AFCI's paired together with a tie bar and wired like a MWBC. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Hi, Apparently 240 AFCI's are out there. Page I-15 of the Eaton Cutler-Hammer catalog has a whole selection for residential use. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben H Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 As I was browsing HD electrical isle last night, I had to stop and look in amazement of the AFCI's hanging in blister packs for 39.00 each. And not 2 ft below was regular for 6.00 bucks....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Job security[] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Kienitz Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 and .... Likely "Made in China or Mexico" .... That could be crass of me saying that as the OEM product may be made offshore as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Nolan, This is the US of A, we only make hamburgers. Everything else is made offshore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douglas Hansen Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 It's been a few months since I've researched this topic. Last I looked, Eaton / Cutler-Hammer was still peddling their branch-feeder style AFCIs that were rated for multiwire circuits. They haven't been allowed by code since 1/1/2008, but that hasn't stopped them from selling them. They do not meet the requirement that AFCIs comply to the UL "combination" standard. Those first generation Cutler Hammer AFCIs were designed for multiwire circuits and include a neutral. Because AFCIs also have ground-fault detection, you can't take 2 separate ordinary AFCIs and apply them to a multiwire circuit. In fact, most of the reported incidences of "nuisance tripping" in multiwire circuits are a result of neutrals getting connected somewhere down the line. Siemens makes a legitimate 2-pole AFCI that works for multiwire circuits and meets current code. Square D does not make one. General Electric makes a 2-pole AFCI that will work on multiwire circuits, but only because they disabled the ground-fault detection and cut off the pigtailed neutral. Cutler-Hammer just keeps trying to clear their shelves of the old non-code-complying product. Douglas Hansen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Simon Posted January 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Thanks for that, Doug. This was a GE breaker. Why a 240-V though instead of individual 120's? Cost savings (again, a high-rise with hundreds of condos)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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