How to Install an AFCI Outlet -- by Home Repair Tutor

Nobody wants there home to burn down. One way to keep your house safe is with AFCI outlets. Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are easy to install. AND: you'll make your house WAY safer by using one.
For more home improvement tips visit www.homerepair...
In today's video you'll see how to install a Leviton AFCI outlet.
My buddy Bill is a licensed electrician and he walks you through this tutorial step by step.
You'll learn how to find the line wire that feeds the AFCI with electricity, install the new AFCI, and an EXPLOSION that proves why this kind of outlet is superior to standard ones.
Watch our video for the details
• How to Install an AFCI...
If you liked this video and need more home repair help around your home you might want to subscribe to my KZbin channel by clicking this link and then the Subscribe button
/ homerepairtutor
Feel free to share this video with your friends either via email or on Facebook
• How to Install an AFCI...
There's nothing better than helping a friend out with a DIY video that could make their project go a lot better.
Thanks for watching my video, take care, and see you in the next one!!
Cheers,
Jeff

[@sparkey4293]

WE are all so very very safe now, IDK how we ever survived before AFCI protection. Same for smoke alarms now required all to be wired together so they all f'n go off at the same time when you open the broiler door. Although as a contractor I will say i have made some easy money replacing smoke dectors that have been bludgeoned into submission by startled tenants, or made very fast service calls reseting gfci recepticals, or AFCI breakers because people can't figure out why there is no power.

[@BobbaFett312]

thanks for doing all this work to show function of AFCI, great vid!

[@johnathansmith3819]

Thanks for explanation. Very practical. In fact, , it is the high frequency which is being addressed here, not the high current or low voltage. Arc happens when A is maxed, V is minimized and this collapses. It generates a counter voltage pick in the thousands, and its spark travels on the "skin of the wire" to other places. In my own case, a spark generated in a heater connection in the basement, created a counter voltage pick collapse that travelled through the COMMON when right through the Power vent on the gas water heater (which controls the gas valve module and its electronic sensing), damaging the electronics in the gas control valve, having to replace the whole thing...

[@garrythompson4132]

Back in the day (before I could afford a circuit tracer) I would plug in a hairdryer (set to on of course) to find the correct circuit, saves a lot of trips up and down stairs. Just click away until you hear it go off.

[@surferdude642]

I did some brief research on the value of acfi's. I found a lot of complaints about nuisance tripping and inability to use some devices. The complaints were more recent than the video. I would do research and talk to electricians in your area before installing willy nilly.j

[@bruceboyles1895]

I installed an AFI in my bedrooms then performed the same test as you did & tripped the CB but not AFCI, next I tried it again using the test button & the AFCI tripped. Is the AFCI bad???? Bruce

[@geecrawdad]

Well done. I just installed an afci outlet and did exactly what you did but mine didn't work. I took a look and saw that the neutrals were reversed, the hot was not matched up with the neutral out of the same cable. So I switched them and it was fine. At the second outlet, I checked first and it was wired like the first, with neutrals reversed. Is it usual to wire that way? Then for the afci to work, the neutrals have to be switched back? This is a 1993 home so maybe before all these safety outlets were common.

[@mastopage3120]

Hello i love this video it's very instructive. So if i understand correctly, let pretend that the hot wire in a regular outlet get loose inside the metal box, and come in contact with the metal box witch is grounded, there is going to be a spark, but the breaker is not going to trip ? Am i understanding this correctly ? Of course i am talking about regular breaker ?

[@mastopage3120]

I don't get this, because if i touch my neutral and white my breaker trip instantly ???? Really confused, because i am talking about regular outlet and regular basic breaker in my house ??? Is it because you're breaker is a 20 amp ? My outlet is 15 amps ????

[@phillipashton-hirst9887]

Should it not be a GFCI installed within a bathroom location it appears to be a shower behind you especially within 6 feet? NEC 210.8A1

[@D-Allen]

Great video!! But what kind of gloves are you using to not get a shock from the utility knife? :0)

[@ejbice]

Do the dual function AFCI/GFCI breakers provide the same protection?

[@paulrobilotti9294]

it is great how these video are done and then you get no response from the people who do the video

[@GarryBurgess]

impressive demo

[@anthonylambiasi6923]

what is a line wire and how does it differ from a different wire?

[@automationtest]

Hi guys, I would like to ask you about AFCI with 220volt. can I use AFCI with 120volt for 220volt?. Because I only see AFCI with 120volt. Thanks for in advance.

[@Voartist]

On a GFCI protected circuit, would you also install and AFCI? If so, on the line side or load side of the GFCI?

[@MrKeran22]

Love ur presentation dude.

[@ubaldo1002]

good video, GFCI outlet would shut down in that situation you simulate? thanks

[@jimmonte9826]

While watching this video, I wondered if it would be possible to monitor for arcs for an entire panel directly at a main breaker and leave all of the other breakers unchanged. The logic at main breaker may need to be a bit more advanced since there will be a faulting and non-faulting circuits, but overall it should be a lot less expensive while offering a way to upgrade entire home at once. Can you give any reasons why this approach would not work?

[@lunstee]

This is possible in theory and was even mentioned in presentation by Eaton. They dismissed the idea since if the breaker trips, it takes down the whole house, and trying to isolate what caused the fault is very cumbersome. You could shut off all the branch breakers before turning the main breaker on, and seeing which branch you turn on that trips the main breaker, but that only works for acute faults. For more subtle faults, you might end up turning all the branch breakers back on without incident, and then the main breaker tripping again later, in which case you end up with no information on what caused the fault. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6nEc4yohst-ea8

[@tedlahm5740]

Need to determine if this is the first outlet in the string?

[@pavel29jenny]

That’s the point!! They didn’t say that you have to figure out some how WERE is the first outlet in the line?????? Some times, - you have to remove all outlets in your bedroom’s, - to find the very first outlet on the line!!!!! Not just unscrew the outlet’s, - but, - remove the wire from some of them, to find out the direction of the wire!!!!!!! And, - only then (!??!!) you’ll find out which outlet is first in the run!!

[@damedicmt]

It would be very wise to find the 1st outlet from the circuit breaker!

[@JamesSmith-lt5zz]

This was addressed in the video. But usually outlet closest to the light switch is going to be you first. Outlet. The run from the breaker runs to the room down to the light switch and from the switch to the outlets.

[@merydiaz95117]

Great 👍 thank you 🙏

[@angelastewart1450]

How much will it cost to have some one install it

[@KenParlee]

Is there a proximity limit for a GFCI breaker near a bathroom sink? I read somewhere that the outlet has to be no less than 12" away from a water source. Would that be the edge of a sink? OR, as long as you have a GFCI, you can put within 12" but mounted to the side (not behind the faucet).

[@educationpower1823]

Why are you not talking about the way to solve a lot of bad connection by implementing sec.110.14 (D)?? And to read and follow manufactures instructions? Just curious

[@1976kempo]

Very Kool, great job.

[@HomeRepairTutor]

+1976kempo thanks, hope it helped

[@ventureelect]

At the beginning I thought the guy on the right was a cut out till he blinked. Now I feel much better.

[@JulesBartow]

Basic voltage tester. Basically plug both ends into the outlet. 2-wires, but 3-holes. Basically which holes? Basically, does it matter whether we plug the red or black into the neutral, ground or the hot? Basically, my car battery has black ground and red positive. AC usually uses white neutral green ground, and black hot. Basically, why does your AC tester use DC colors?

[@surferdude642]

A voltage tester or multimeter come with black and red leads by default. In a.c. it doesn't matter which one you use for ground, neutral, or hot. If using a multimeter set on voltage to check D.C. it still doesn't matter. If measured backwards you will get negative number.

[@nhbilly]

Thanks

[@ovagaming7549]

This was awesome :)

[@HomeRepairTutor]

Thanks, we had fun ; Who doesn't like pyrotechnics

[@ddud4966]

Cool but his explanation of how AFCIs work wasn't correct. The description was actually for how a GFCI works (it trips on current imbalance). AFCIs work via a microprocessor that watches the wire for the characteristic RF signal that arcing produces. There's a lot of logic in there to avoid false tripping on deliberate arcs, like inside corded drill motors.

[@neaituppi7306]

An AFCI breaker would be easier to install, for a non-electrician than an AFCI outlet receptacle. For a wall outlet receptacle. The wires could get crossed. The wires could be attached to the receptacle connections insecurely. When they put the receptacle back in, they may not notice the ground wire is not put back far enough to avoid touching the neutral or hot connections. They may not fully tighten the wall screws, or strip them out. There are things they could do wrong in a panel too. But the instructions for a AFCI breaker are much less. But for this one I would have suggested just using a non-contact tester, rather than using a light, taking the receptacle out, putting it back in, taking it out again. They can get those at most any hardware store, for not much.

[@tedlahm5740]

GFCI needed in a bathing area?

[@Lughnerson]

Anywhere near water: kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, water tank.

[@tylere.8436]

​@@Lughnerson Don't forget outdoor plugs and garages and sheds if you have power there.

[@chickedwin7194]

Thanks bro

[@wendychen9022]

AFCI how much for one pole

[@fishodorvagina]

There is one problem. AFCI always trip when you plug in LED Christmas lights. I think the AFCI device is detecting the arc in the LED.

[@cryo_life]

That's how it works 😂

[@efrenreyes2321]

no pigtailing?

[@surferdude642]

Pigtails not allowed on gfci or afci since current must flow through these devices in order to protect downstream.

[@cljprestacoesdeservicoslis2935]

Muito Bom Mesmo

[@HomeRepairTutor]

Thank you

[@atb1040]

Safer to install ground side up

[@tylere.8436]

It's really not much safer. It really doesn't matter the orientation, unless you just have a thing for loose plugs and dropping metal onto the receptacle.

[@BassByTheBay]

Isn't that what he did?

[@paulrobilotti9294]

so GFCI are out and AFCI are in??????????????????????, or should get the CFCI/AFCI and use that

[@boggle37]

What I'm already doing. Good explanation of how to do this and the spectacular demonstration at the end shows why it's needed. Ignore the nitpicking about the explanation not being technically correct, it works!If you are comfortable mucking about in your breaker box, breakers are easier, but most people aren't.About the only thing I would recommend is using a non-contact voltage detector that beeps if near a liver wire. Covers more situations than the outlet tester like the one shown herekzbin.info/www/bejne/g5bCnYmBq9J7b7s

[@Magicgathers]

Need an electrician for a breaker huh? .... haven’t used one yet

[@GregsWorkshopOregon]

Why would I need to call an electrician to replace a breaker? Replacing a breaker is less work than replacing an outlet.

[@wizard3z868]

i was thinking the same thing but maybe most pple are afriad to open panel

[@damedicmt]

I thought the same thing! Would much rather change a breaker vs. an outlet. But... the AFCI could be somewhat difficult, since the breaker being replaced is not the same as the AFCI. You now have the pigtail neutral that goes to neutral bus, and the load neutral now has to go back to breaker along with hot. Could be somewhat more complex than the average DIY’er may have bargained for?

[@Tinfoil.Hatter]

Thanks Bababooey

[@morfar7501]

An AFCI circuit is intended for circuit faults in the house wiring. i.e. A drywall screw and errant nail nicks a wire and creates a trickle arc where there is not enough current to short the breaker, but enough to create heat enough to cause a fire. So tell me how an AFCI outlet would stop this from occurring between the outlet and the circuit panel? Also, I noticed you used a 20A circuit. If you used a 15A, the standard breaker would have popped the moment you sliced the wire. Add the fact that you can't share a neutral and most 14/3 or 12/3 home runs are null and void. The additional cost is approx. $2500 per home (and everyone wonders why it costs so much to build new) so why not simply require all circuits to be arc-fault and then add GFCI outlets in kitchens and baths. Hell, arc fault the main breaker as well. And for all those idiots who might lean their aluminum ladder against the feed from the pole, maybe all poles should have arc fault protection?

[@kennysboat4432]

yes thank you

[@williamgleaves1954]

Why are you showing a bathroom? I thought AFCI was not required in a bathroom but only GFCI to protect from electric shock.

[@HomeRepairTutor]

GFCIs are the way to go but now Leviton is making GFCI/AFCI combos, so this is a good explanation for a bathroom or any other location in the house.

[@kennysboat4432]

no its gfcis because trip if it shorts out and arc faults happen when a wire shorts out then in bathroom etc they work about the same but are not a replacement for afcis

[@tylere.8436]

GFCI addresses electricution around water, while AFCI addresses arc flashes like damaging wires on the floor or nailing on the wall with wires behind it. For a bathroom GFCI or GFCI/AFCI combo works well.

[@pvb9964]

maybe we should heed Edisons' conclusion...and only use DC power, not AC, like Tesla invented/developed

[@panarek8549]

no arc at all video