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AFDDs - when do they work?

I'm struggling to see the benefots of fitting AFDD's.

I've searched the web, but cannot find any compelling evidence that they actually help in safety.

 The Proffesional Journals all say they are a good thing, but with little content to show the data used to show they make a difference.

As we know, many fires are not caused by arcs, the build up of fluff in a tumble dryer is a typical example.

When I did my Social Housing work, I found many burnt out shower switches, along with washing machine sockets and occasional cooker switches that were totally burnt around the terminals, yet, in many cases would still work until the switch finally fell apart. Clearly some of these switches had been arcing, then had fused the cable to the terminal, others showed black terminals with only a small contact area, thus heating the terminals and causing the 'fishy' smell, which was quite typical.

Is there any evidence that AFDD's would stop these failures?

What about internal appliance faults?

Wasnt Grenfell started in a fridge? If so, would AFDD detect that fault?

And, what are appliance manufacturers doing to make their goods safer? From what I see, there are still thin tin plate terminals on cookers,and poor, loose spade terminals inside firdges and other appliances.They are made to be as cheap as possible, and it shows when you tighten up a terminal, and it bends the back plate as it is so thin.   

Parents
  • A.F.D.D. with a combined M.C.B. unit, the tripping may just be due to overcurrent, so we may not know which part of the device has caused the tripping off.

    All the ones I looked at had some means of indicating the cause of the trip - usually coloured/flashing LED - different flashes for Arcs, RCD or overcurrent - so probably better than many an RCBO.

      - Andy.

  • H.M.O.s are often privately owned. The question is WHEN do these unproven "fire preventing" devices have to be installed? In existing installations?

    Z.

  • Then when Mrs. Gumby's clothes get smelly and mouldy in the machine she has to put them on at least one or maybe two new wash cycles to remove the smells.

    Z.

  • And she can't dry them outside because it's raining and the wind isn't blowing!

    Never mind eh, Mrs Gumby is delighted to be doing her bit for the environment despite being charged a hefty premium to put up with regular supply interruptions.

  • I wonder which of his algorithms told him it was ok to visit his German mistress despite his own advice to the rest of us?

  • AFDDs are a completely different ballgame to the other passive devices I have mentioned.

    Circuit-breakers have, for some time, had intelligence in them. Granted, not the "for use by ordinary persons" breakers, but it's nothing new to me to see "computers" in protective devices.

    I think you're dead right, that there's way more mileage out of "SMART" devices to be marketed in the future.

  • Wife phoning husband who is at work.

    "George there's an  arc fault on our wiring I'm worried about a possible fire"

    George; "Are you sure dear?"

    Wife. "Yes George there are flashing lights."

    George. "Can you see or smell smoke?"

    Wife. "No George, but the lights are still flashing."

    George. "I have an important meeting in 30 minutes here."

    Wife. "Can't you come home George, I'm very worried."

    George rushes home.

    George upon inspecting consumer unit.

    "Oh, dear, there's nothing wrong. It's just the flashing lights on the smart meter dear."

    Wife. "Well they were signalling a fault dear. They were. Honestly."

    Z.

  • Dear, dear will you spend some time viewing this please........?

    Do I really have to?

    AFDD - Arc Fault Detection Device - Part 1 - Bing video

    "But Dear, when the device switches off after eventually detecting an arc fault it needs to be turned on, possibly to a faulty circuit, before it reveals its reason for switching off. I though that we should not energise a faulty circuit or faulty appliance. That could be dangerous."

    Z.

  • "But Dear, when the device switches off after eventually detecting an arc fault it needs to be turned on, possibly to a faulty circuit, before it reveals its reason for switching off. I though that we should not energise a faulty circuit or faulty appliance. That could be dangerous."

    Oh dear.

    What the FIRST thing that happens when a domestic RCD trips (or, as I've seen, RCD trip at work, that's intended for operation by ordinary persons)?

    A user tries to reset it. Simples. Same with mcb's ... only after it trips again will anyone investigate further.

    I don't really see that as a clear argument that AFDDs are dangerous. Sorry  

  • A user tries to reset it. Simples. Same with mcb's ... only after it trips again will anyone investigate further.

    Father always said not to replace a fuse until the cause of the blow had been found, but I think that one might be permitted one try with an MCB.

    At work, not too long ago, we were informed that we could not have tea because there was no power to the water heater. This was a serious matter. I found a CU, opened the door, saw a tripped MCB and reset it. Doubtless I broke many rules (including standing on a chair rather than a ladder) but I fixed the problem.

  • A similar near existential crisis at our place had a temporary 3 phase extension lead running between two buildings and up a stairwell to the offending coffee room in  under an hour. That is because it was the one used by site services. The cynic in me suspects that anyone else  would have had to put a ticket in and wait..

    Mike

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  • A similar near existential crisis at our place had a temporary 3 phase extension lead running between two buildings and up a stairwell to the offending coffee room in  under an hour. That is because it was the one used by site services. The cynic in me suspects that anyone else  would have had to put a ticket in and wait..

    Mike

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