Combination AFCI Breaker vs Dual Function Breaker: The Differences and Where to Use Them

[@theseattlegreen1871]

Amazing explanation about series and parallel arcs! Thanks Sparky!

[@SparkyChannel]

My pleasure! Thanks!

[@OSAS726]

Yes, he does a very good job at explaining that concept. Series arcs are loose lugs in a circuit panel or any loose connection for that matter. Whereas parallel arcs happen between two circuit points with an instantaneous difference in potential.

[@davehowell4111]

Very awesome video, my wife and just built a brand new home and I was seriously wondering about the Square D breakers. Great video

[@SparkyChannel]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@kenbrown2808]

personally, I spec either Siemens type Q or Eaton type CH panels. the Homeline series is Square D's economy line, and like many economy lines, they use a coated aluminum busbar. in a dry, non corrosive climate, you can get away with that, but in my climate, I've seen an unprotected aluminum busbar corrode in just a couple years.

[@davehowell4111]

@@kenbrown2808 definitely 💯 agree r old house actually had true Cu buss bar and it was a Seimans and definitely a better panel overall but that’s what the builder uses now the Al buss bar.

[@SparkyChannel]

@@kenbrown2808 Good points. The Square D panels are more expensive than the Homeline panels but they use copper buss bars.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@SparkyChannel Square D QO is possibly the best available for residential use. but they cost top dollar as well. most would argue that the extra cost of QO isn't necessary except in a worse case environment.

[@vince6829]

Great explanation!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@SparkyChannel]

Thanks so much!

[@RJ-ej1nr]

Something to highlight about the SqD DF breakers have a diagnostic feature to tell you why it tripped. Hold the button down and turn it on after the trip, and depending on whether it trips at 1, 2, or 5 seconds it indicates whether it's an arc fault, ground fault, or other fault. I read they have a new model with an led indicator ("time saver diagnostics" - HOM120DAFGF), but I haven't seen any of those in real world yet.

[@SparkyChannel]

Great information, thanks!

[@charlesvandolah8761]

Thanks for all of the wonderful videos, very helpful and easy to understand.

[@SparkyChannel]

You're very welcome! Thanks Charles!

[@crayh5o]

Great explanation of the differences

[@marcfruchtman9473]

Thanks for the video.

[@waynehenson1094]

Love the video.

[@garydudgeon]

Very informative Sparky.

[@SparkyChannel]

Thanks Gary!

[@ChristopherSachs65]

Thanks for the explanation of the differences. Is that Catalina Island at the end of the video?

[@SparkyChannel]

Thanks! Yes, it is.

[@JohnQPublic345]

are fault breakers should only be necessary when running Romex, in my opinion

[@SparkyChannel]

Thanks!

[@OSAS726]

John, I would absolutely agree. They would be superfluous for circuits run through EMT.

[@sigcrazy7]

How about a lamp cord, plugged in behind the couch, that gets a chair leg on top of the cord? Or cheap receptacles that provide a poor connection and just loosely hold the plug, begin to arc, and then cause the receptacle to melt and burn? There are many benefits to having an AFCI beyond simply protecting against wire damage in the wall. Even THHN inside of EMT can be poorly terminated in a junction box, and there's no guarantee that a resulting fire will remain contained within the junction box.

[@benjaminwilliams3568]

Bill one big problem I See the current combo AFCI/GFCI breakers don't work in California homes built say between 1980 and 2010. The white pigtail Panel Breaker switches will. So inside in my bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry room, all need GFCI outlets installed or is it the other way around? Installing GFCI Breakers at the panel, and AFCI Outlets in the above areas mentioned. I'm asking for those confused.

[@ntsecrets]

I like the plug on neutral design but I recently put in a 50 amp outdoor outlet and got a gfci home line breaker for it and it had a big pigtail on it guessing because it has to carry more current than the plug on neutral can handle.

[@SparkyChannel]

Interesting, thanks!

[@donl1410]

Informative subject. Definitely better to source those breakers at the Box Stores or Amazon. My wholesale supply houses in this area are way out with pricing on nearly everything. I do like the plug-on neutral panels.

[@SparkyChannel]

Home Depot seems to be getting quite expensive to me. And the customer service is getting worse at my particular location. They want us to ring up (check) all the items with a couple of people watching over about 6 stations. I'm worried about this because I have a big renovation coming up and I'll be purchasing a lot of products. Too bad about the wholesale supply houses getting higher prices. Somebody needs to give Home Depot some competition. Yes, plug-on neutrals are great! Thanks Don!

[@yurimykhalchuk4466]

Очень понравилось,благодарю вас

[@SparkyChannel]

You're welcome!

[@eugenepolan1750]

I was thinking for sure that the combination breaker had a dial with numbers that you had to spin in alternating directions in order to reset the circuit after a fault.

[@benjaminwilliams3568]

Bill you forgot to mention the difference between the white and purples test button. What about those please?

[@SparkyChannel]

The white test button goes to the Homeline combination AFCI and the purple test button is the Homeline dual function AFCI/GFCI.

[@BKD1966]

1:30

[@Eddy63]

Good info Bill ... Thx

[@SparkyChannel]

Thanks Eddy!

[@OSAS726]

I absolutely love your channel and I love all of your content. So informative Brother. I’m currently in college in my second semester taking electrical engineering. I just turned 51 in October and I am a freshman at the local community college. I love all things electricity based and mathematics. Next semester, I take calculus 1. I always wondered what the difference was between an AFCI and a combination overcurrent device. So what you’re saying basically is that the combination breaker is both arcfault and ground fault? Am I understanding you correctly?

[@SparkyChannel]

Hi! No, you don't quite have it. A combination AFCI breaker doesn't give GFCI protection. They call it combination because it gives both series and parallel AFCI protection only. The Dual function breaker is the one the gives both GFCI and AFCI protection. Thanks, I'm glad you like the content!

[@OSAS726]

@@SparkyChannel o Oh OK thank you so much sir for the clarification.

[@OSAS726]

@@SparkyChannel Is there such a thing as a combination AFCI/GFCI dual function breaker?

[@SparkyChannel]

@@OSAS726 Yes, it is the dual function breaker. It provides both series and parallel ARC protection as well as GFCI protection.

[@cheezhead1286]

What are your thoughts on the new requirement that ALL kitchen outlets require GFCI protection? Putting refrigerators on GFCIs is a bad idea imo

[@SparkyChannel]

I agree with you. Putting a refrigerator on a GFCI is just asking for spoiled food.

[@OSAS726]

@@SparkyChannel I was getting ready to say the same thing you should never put a motorized load on a GFCI. The lock rotor start up current would surge and cause the GFCI to trip.

[@stephenkennedy6358]

Why would you not want AFCI breakers in bathrooms

[@SparkyChannel]

Perhaps to cut down on nuisance tripping due to the damp conditions in a bath.

[@frankydaca]

I find that using Homeline plug on neutral panels in conjunction w/ CAFCI/CAFGFCI is so much easier for apprentices. Especially when U energizes a system after trimout. U avoid breakers tripping and having to troubleshoot the panel for incorrectly wired neutral pigtails.

[@dallas5374]

Apprentices have no business working on live panels. Do better.

[@frankydaca]

Say someone who'd rather have an apprentice be a go-fer and clean-uper for the next 4 years. U must work for the union...