How To Wire for Both Ground Fault & Arc Fault Protection

[@MarkLawry]

It might sound dumb, but I like the little green light on the GFCI receptacles. At a glance, I can tell that that the receptacle is on, and working.

[@aurvaroy6670]

Same. That’s the reason I replaced them in my house. The old ones were working fine but don’t have the light and are too bulky compared to the newer ones I installed

[@2SanityAtitsBest2]

I’d been trying to find this info for the last couple of hours. Thanks for sharing.

[@Baasicstuff]

Im wiring my garage, I bought duel function breakers, my elec guy said these can trip a lot and he recommended GFCI breaker. All my outlet are GFI protected already but I believe code say both the circuity and the outlet needs protection. Code and one inspector to the next really has no answers

[@72strand]

The GFCI breaker protects all the wires from the panel to the outlet. Shorts and dangers can happen before the receptacles.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Yes that is definitely an added benefit!

[@mr.g937]

That only is really relevant for AFCI protection as arc faults can happen anywhere along the line and are perhaps even likely if someone is screwing or nailing into the wall. With GFCI, there has to be a means for a ground fault to happen, and as there are no outlets on the home run (between the breaker and first outlet) there really isn't much of a way a ground fault can happen. This is probably why the NEC only requires the home run to be arc-fault protected and not ground-fault protected. That said, for a lighting circuit there is no other option besides at the breaker.

[@aurvaroy6670]

This is one of my favorite videos from you channel. Straight to the point and mentions all the pros and cons of dual function breakers. Personally, I would only use dual function breakers for areas near the panel so that it's quick/easy to reset a tripped breaker due to ground fault. If it was a farther location, like a kitchen, bathroom, or garage, I would stick with arc fault breakers and ground fault receptacles so that it still provides quick/easy way to reset any ground fault trip

[@Longing4Addis]

Can you clarify why you think one can’t use GFCI outlet(s) on a feeder that is energized by a GFCI, AFCI or dual function breaker? I’m asking because your recording at the 2:23 mark implied that. Thanks!

[@dwightrivera3281]

Great question, I Would also like to know

[@trevorkolmatycki4042]

I experienced an arc fault failure that lit my house on fire this week. Feeding a 10A steam humidifier via an extension cord from a standard 15A outlet right by the panel. Arcing occurred where the humidifier plugged into the female end of the #14 wire extension cord. It arced for a very long duration as evidenced by the crater it excavated in the fibreglass insulation in the wall next to it. The plug arced until the circuit opened and it lit on fire and the Breaker did not trip. The arcing lit the 6mil poly on fire on the unfinished basement wall. I was fortunate that I detected the fire very early due to odour and was able to halt it with a fire extinguisher. I now have a dedicated arc fault circuit to the humidifier with a GFCI outlet. Feeding long duration, high current appliances with extension cords on non AFCI circuits is a fire hazard.

[@AMentorway4u]

Your videos are well done and information is awesome and solid. You put alot of work into all your videos and the quality is perfect. Appreciate all your hard work and your willingness to share your knowledge. Respect Sir.

[@PTucker0864]

Excellent info. My only concern is using any type of gfci outlet in a crawlspace for a sump pump. In which case, a dual function breaker in the main box inside the home would suffice.

[@tehammel]

Why do you say that combination GFCI/AFCI breakers are not compatible with GFCI receptacles? Your answer may be a solution to a problem I am having. Thanks!

[@elliotserrano7333]

I am just a DIY guy. If I use a dual function breaker does that eliminate the need for GFCI receptacles?

[@jester4929]

Can you use a dual function GFCI/AFCI breaker with older home 2 wire, instead of multiple GFCI outlets?

[@kavemanbites]

the audible is great for refrigeration equipment!

[@ricardozar01]

This is a very good explanation about the difference between ARC breaker and the other one, but there's a color which can I recognize if I need to wireto the breaker kitchen or the laundry?

[@TheDannytre]

Hi Ben, Great video so let me get this straight, so I do not have to have a GFCI in my kitchen if I have this dual function breaker? Seems a lot cheaper in the long run and not having to buy a GFCI on all the receptacles.

[@gedionsamuel2256]

1 GFCI receptacle placed first can protect the other outlets down the line

[@jtwu8931]

Can you provide some pointers on troubleshooting nuisance tripping on AFCI/GFCI 20 A receptacles when using toaster or rice cooker. It is sporadic and not always related to load condition. Before upgrading to the dual receptacles, the GFCI receptacles rarely tripped if ever. Thanks.

[@memichael4028]

There is one more fairly significant disadvantage to using a combination ground fault / arc fault breaker. They are really expensive!!

[@paulrobilotti9294]

correct me if you feel I am wrong, that expense is a lot less then what could happen (fire??)

[@michaelmillette8695]

I should have added that the exact same protection can be achieved with an arc fault breaker and a ground fault receptacle wired to protect the entire circuit. A combination breaker will protect against both types of faults but it's really expensive. There is an equally effective and much cheaper way.

[@paulrobilotti9294]

Ben, my sump pump is linked to a dedicated breaker in a sub panel in my basement, could I put a Audible Trip GFCI Receptacle instead of the plan receptacle which would now mean I have a GFCI receptacle to plug into and a breaker in the sub panel , I hope you see this, Thank you. You videos have helped me a few times

[@ciscoape]

Hey Ben I have a question on how you wired these outlets. Specific to wiring standard outlets after installing dual function breaker/interrupters, did you wire them just like any standard outlet or is there special guidelines for how to wire the neutrals and grounds? In way a way earlier video you wired a standard outlet using pigtails that separately tied together hots, neutral, and grounds. Combining them together made a daisy chain while the pigtail legs fed the outlet at that drop. Does that change change when using dual function breakers? Thanks for putting yourself out there. Classy touch with your respectful reply’s to everyone’s comments.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

All of the wiring is the same for receptacles that are fed by a AFCI, GFCI, or dual function circuit breaker. The only thing that is different is that the hot and neutral wires both connect directly to the breaker inside of the panel instead of the hot being on the breaker and the neutral being attached to the neutral bar. So you can wire the receptacles (outlets) either with pigtails or by using the crew connections on the receptacle. I prefer pigtails whenever possible. Thanks for your comment and especially for being a subscriber! Blessings to you from Minnesota!

[@rdanscale3416]

What's the Amp Service Panel the Breakers your Showing is in 200 Amp Service or Bigger Thanks and I could use ocouple of those Combo GFCI & Arc Breakers.. Where I live..

[@nkemsongromanus853]

Hi, I have a question. Can a afci/gfci breaker share neutral with a none gfci or afci line.

[@kensproles5816]

Hello Benjamin! Still enjoying you videos sir! Question… does a CAFI or combo arc and ground fault breaker white lead have to go to the neutral or can it go to the ground bar in my panel? If they are connected should it matter? Thanks for responding

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Would need to land on the neutral bar. You shouldn't land neutrals on ground bars that have been added in the panel.

[@juanramirez3679]

Muy buen video y he visto varios tuyos y son muy buenos...El interruptor dual señala el tipo de falla cuando hay una falla y como saber cual es.

[@rupeinspections5611]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@heathg2681]

I've heard leviton makes hospital grade receptacles which seem to be very heavy duty.

[@MarysNest]

Hi Ben, This is Mary from Video Labs! This is an amazing video. We've had some problems with this sort of thing because our ground plugs are outside - albeit they are covered but yes, they are always being exposed to moisture and turning off and flipping the breaker switch. I've got my husband watching your channel now!! Do you know Patrick over at Rain Country Homestead? His wife has the YT channel but Patrick often adds videos about fixing things in the home. They are small scale homesteaders like my husband and me and we have learned a lot form them. You never know - you two might be compatible for a collab at some point in the future. And speaking of that, are you friends with many homesteaders here on YT? I think they would really appreciate your channel. I am going to share your channel with my FB group. You are doing a great job!! God bless, Mary

[@gobrowns2163]

Hi Ben, two of my three Siemen type QAF breakers tripped and cannot be reset any longer. I try to look for type QAF but it seems they are no longer available. I only see type QAF2 available. What is the difference between QAF and QAF2? Can iuse type QAF2 instead?

[@stelthcamo357]

Question my coca cola machine has a built in gfci on the power cord plugged into a regular 120v outlet as soon as I strike an arc with my 220 welder it cuts off the coke machine I have to unplug it and plug it back in for it to cut back on it does not throw the breaker could there be a frequency issue with the welder and the gfci on my coke machine would the welder frequency cause the gfci to turn the machine off. And I have the welder on it's on 50 amp breaker

[@jobsucks]

Can I use a GFCI receptacle on a regular 15 amp DOUBLE pole circuit ?

[@pacoraban1009]

Hi Benjamin , Thanks for all the info , I been watching a lot of your video to get idea about how to change my panel for a new one and now I starting with rewiring the house. for the breakers I select regular GE slim line. now after seeing this video I know I need to get AFCI and GFCI breakers or outlets. I am working to re-connect the Stove dryer and water heater and the problem is I didn't find any Dual Pole 40 AMP and 30 AMP (Dryer) Dual function breaker for GE Panels. Do you know where can I find them ? or if I can install a different brand breakers ? , Or If they are AFCI/GFCI Outlets ? . An Electrician friend told me that I can install the first outlet GFCI outlet and the rest regular and all of them will be GFCI and install a AFCI Breaker for that circuit. That can work for 15 and 20 Amps , but do I do it with 30 and 40 dual. Thanks

[@D-Allen]

You have a dual function breaker on your outside outlets. Reading the 2020 code, it seems to me that outside outlets, bathrooms and garages don’t require ACFI protection. Is that correct? That being said, I am also in Minnesota and see that my outside outlets are protected with a dual function breaker as well. Am I missing something? Thanks!

[@aurvaroy6670]

That's correct. The code book states that bathrooms, garages, and outdoor areas are not required to have AFCI protection in dwellings. But you never know when NEC will expand AFCI to those areas in the future revisions. Also, GFCI breakers are very uncommon so I guess Ben only needed GFCI protection for his outdoor plugs but couldn't find a Square D GFCI breaker so his only options were a normal breaker with GFCI receptacles or a DFCI breaker with normal receptacles.

[@riverguy988]

My arc faults do not all have the white wire, some are designed to plug into the neutral bar. Am I out of compliance with code or do they all have to be the same?

[@aurvaroy6670]

That means you have plug on neutral breakers, which are the newer style breakers that only work with those newer style panels like yours. You still have AFCI protection regardless of whether the AFCI breaker is pigtail or plug on neutral, so you should be code compliant.

[@lancerudy9934]

They make a tester to test gfi plug or breaker! Do they make tester for a ark fault system?

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Yes! They are a bit more expensive though. Here it is: amzn.to/2CHN38o

[@frankward9657]

is it safer to have a pigtail or snap on

[@plumber77mjr]

Decent video, good info. Personally don't like your breaker labeling and the outlet on the panel where you cut the trim cover to fit where it sits to the panel, ugh.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

I agree. I did not wire this panel or do the labeling. Just used it as an example. Thanks for the comment!

[@donnierobertson3088]

Good job

[@RadioFixer]

Best explanation! 👍👏👏 great video. Thanks

[@sohailjanjua123]

Hi Benjamin You have master electrician License from which State. Thanks

[@DJayAce4]

Why have the GFCI receptacles when you can just have a duel function (AFCI/GFCI) breaker?

[@jester4929]

In older homes with 2 wire (no-ground), can you use the dual function breaker instead of GFCI receptacles?

[@kev4317]

you certainly can use the gfci outlet with a gfci breaker.

[@ladislavbursa5278]

I learn a lot,thanks :)

[@martingonzalez529]

Thanks for another excellent video 👍

[@solarwarriorkek]

Great video!

[@lesterwatson8519]

Does anyone know if they make an audible trip receeptical that gives an audible alarm at a location away from the receptacle?

[@aurvaroy6670]

No it doesn't unfortunately. The alarm is only in the receptacle itself and is very loud, so it's really hard not to hear it far away

[@WmiuskUSA]

I put a new 20 amp circuit in my garage and the first outlet in the circuit is a gfci. I got everything hooked up and turned on the breaker. When I went to push in the button on the gfci it popped right back out. Even when the breaker is turned off the gfci stays popped out. Any idea what the problem could be?

[@wizard3z868]

thier are two sides two a gfci terminals line and load usually bottom is line the feed coming from panel needs to go to line side and the others if any need to go to load side if you want them gfci protected as well make sure the ground is not touching the neutral term or hot as well. also no harm in wrapping terms with electrical tape i do this when ever there is very little room in box or it is a metal box. when i first started i wld be in a rush and wld connect the the feed and loads in reverse 🤦‍♀️😎 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJacmap7bcmBlc0

[@wizard3z868]

hi ben you should get rid of that plastic cover plate on that metal box its only like $1.50 for a handybox gfci cover plate. ive caught corners before and just snaped plates ive lrnd

[@chotunab]

Very good

[@lorus511]

Couldn't you have an alert on your intruder alarm system that alerts you when the power fails to various appliances? Most intruder alarms these days have the capability to include this, they are often used where people who keep tropical fish for example need to know quickly if there is a power cut and the fish would die within a short space of time.

[@johnsmithth3318]

Doesn't the afci trip on a switch

[@408rlb]

At 1:37 you sat “this arc fault receptacle” when it should have been “ground fault receptacle.”

[@Hohmwrekker]

Wasn’t aware of an audible gfci receptacle.

[@zwasgehtsiedasan5932]

Hey I know that has nothing to do with the video but i just wanted to ask why most of the American electricians twist wires insted of using wagos

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Honestly I think it is simply because that is how it has always been that way. There are quite a few electricians that are switching and I hope to try them soon myself. Twist connectors are cheaper as well.

[@zwasgehtsiedasan5932]

@@BenjaminSahlstrom Ok thanks for the answer 👍

[@wizard3z868]

we also find that if you twist the wires the proper way they will bound much tighter and if merret falls of they will still be in contact also the first batch of wagos in the states wld have very little to no pressure and the wires wld just fall out or wld arc and melt. i also was trained in using copper crimps with tht 4 way crimp tool and than add a plastic insulator cap on. they are great if you dont want pple easily messing around with splices. customers wld call a cple of months down the road when they wanted to add something get confused say they dont know what happened we wld get there and go where is the crimp we dont use wire nuts your fault service call. light fixtures we wld pig tail with a wire nut to the fixture wires so those they cld change

[@donruggles8937]

You use statements like I think and I believe. In making a informative video you may want to just quote code and show that on the screen there's no guessing because you're quoting chapter and verse. On the sump pump and freezer issue what do you do when the homeowner is gone for an extended period of time and there's no one watching the house?

[@peterharper9703]

Question: Why not just change everything to everything to cover both arch fault/ground fault? Then you would be covered no matter what.

[@emmybrauckmuller]

The title is how to wire, not your opinion.

[@tommymairo8964]

Use an AFCI and your nice neighbor is a ham radio operator 🌝 Then the AFCI will trip everytime he transmittes on ~20 m bands 🌚👎🏿

[@daputahkstahks]

Good explanation but look at those wires looks like spaghetti.

[@nope53926]

Dude never shows how to wire

[@rise1981tm]

Dude stop talking n change the breaker! Thats y were here not for u to explain everything but😂😂😂

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Sometimes I do need to just get on with it. Thanks for the reminder!

[@garytooker8664]

Are you aware that you only ran your mouth and didn't show how to wire anything?