Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 73 replies
  • Subscribers 32 subscribers
  • Views 4898 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

The Arc Fault Detection Device… again.

whjohnson
Some humourous but valid observations on AFDDs, the state of the industry, the wiring regs and future amendment requirements.

He also attempts to build a AFFD tester which electrically tests rather than relying upon the mechanical action of the test button on the device itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0ElFaKc_e8

  • 0
    I would echo Dave Z's comments. The IET is allowing itself to be brought into disrepute if it allows manufacturers to influence BS7671 and it's subsequent amendments.

    If this is truly the case, then it's once august reputation will taken as seriously as a manufacturer's marketing brochure.


    The questions must be - Is there really a problem with arcing in domestic installations?

    And, if so, then where is the real empirical evidence?

    Finally, Is a ADFDD fit for purpose in it's present guise?


    My answer would be an emphatic No to each.
  • 0
    So in my house AFDD will not detect series arcs on the socket ring or the lighting circuits.


    If that’s true they are about as much use as a chocolate teapot in my house and most of the other houses in the UK.


    The loads on the lighting circuits are less than 2 amps each if I turn all the lights in the house on at the same time and that’s at the start of the circuit, individual switch drops supplying one LED lamp in a pendant on bedrooms are only carrying around 40 milliamperes, not the 2 amps or more required for an AFDD to work correctly.


    Still the switches should not cause an arc that results in nuisance tripping.
  • 0
    I think with the inbuilt inertia attached to the AFDD design, these devices are only suitable at the intake to protect against loose supply connections. In which case the DNOs should then be responsible for the installation and maintenance .

    The youtube article was excellent and strangely enough quite clear although I think the presenter must have taken too much amphetamine sulphate.

    Legh

Community Rules & Guidelines