So far, with your help, I feel confident of my plan to re-wire my 1900's colonial home. I'm aware of (and was planning on) installing GFI outlets where required and wiring them up as needed (etc..bathrooms). I knew about GFCI Breakers, and although appreciate the "More safety=more better" motto, I didn't want a whole circuit and the mercuy of accidental trips on the GFI breaker. Now I am hearing about AFCI breakers and my promise to myself was that if I were going to re-wire myself, I wouldn't compromise any safety considerations or design improvements. Can Anyone give any suggestions as to which breakers I should use in the board (AFCI, GFCI)? Are some required now as per NEC? My plan WAS standard breakers with GFI outlets where needed....MY wife thanks you again....

 

Tell us where you are located and which verison (if any) of the NEC your area follows.

Also, since you are obviously doing your homework, I would get a few good books on home wiring and answer this one for yourself. The "Pocket Guide to Residential Installations" is a good code refrence. I have heard of conflicting facts from some DIY books.
You will feel better having the facts in your hands, with some guidance from the pros here.

 

Here's some info from a pro.

http://www.mikeholt.com/news/archive..._03-1-2003.htm

You'll need AFCI protection (circuit breaker) for all the outlets in your bedrooms. Check with the electrical inspector in your area.

Use GFCI receptacles (cheaper w/same protection) instead of GFCI breakers.

 

I had planned on GFI outlets (following code), so I guess my question was really about AFCI breakers. I realize my building department is the one to call for the specifics on "local requirements" but I was interested in getting all of your inputs from a product stand point. Money not being an issue (well, it is but I won't skimp) are AFCI's a no brainer or are they still getting some kinks worked out. Given the health of my wiring system as it is now (old knob & tub mixed with everything else, over-circuited glass fuse panels), standard breakers with gfi outlets is a tremendous improvement. Perhaps I should get AFCI breakers for the bedrooms (as some locals require) even if mine doesn't...Safer is better???

 

Somewhere in between.

If money is not an object, I suggest you put in the AFCI breakers. Worst case is that if they give you problems you can always swap back in regular breakers later.

 

Last question...Why do some municipalities require them in BEDROOMS. Why are bedrooms circuits more in need than any other...or all.

 

Arc-fault breakers detect high resistance faults other than those to ground (which a GFCI senses). So this could for example be hot-to-neutral (say from a cable under a staple driven too deeply), or a series resistance (faulty connection to a switch, intermittent contact in a broken conductor, etc). These are resistive loads that follow the normal conductor path, so a GFCI would not catch them (no leakage to ground). To a standard breaker they are a normal load, so unless the current is very high, it wouldn't catch them either. The AFCI has circuitry to sense the resistance characteristics of these arcing fault.

Point being...the resistance builds up localized heat, possibly leading to a smoldering fire. Hence the requirement for AFCIs for all circuits (light, receptacle, smoke detector) in bedrooms.

 

It's not the municipalities that chose the bedroom to begin this AFCI experiment. It's the NEC committee. I believe the bedroom was chosen because there are a lot of electrical cords near a lot of drapes and bedding, and people spend a lot of time there. It's just a start. If the experiment works out well, some future code will begin requiring them in other rooms.