Unless you’ve built a new cottage or done major renovations, you may not realize just how dramatically Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) breakers have changed the electrical trade over the past decade.
Most house fires caused by electricity start with an arc fault—essentially, current jumping across a gap in a circuit. Arc faults are usually caused by damaged, stressed, or loose wiring. AFCIs are highly sensitive breakers that constantly monitor an electrical circuit, protecting you from electrical fires. GFCI breakers, on the other hand, trip when electricity takes an unexpected detour into the ground and could electrocute you.
To be code compliant, most new 120-volt circuits with a 20- or 15-amp receptacle need AFCI protection. The few exceptions include some kitchen receptacles (counter, island, and fridge), bathroom sink receptacles, and a sump pump that uses a single (not duplex) receptacle.
As a result, electricians map out the circuits in a building differently, electrical panels are bigger in volume to accommodate the breakers, and overall costs have increased (AFCI breakers are about seven times the price of an unprotected breaker).
LED lighting, residential electric vehicle charging, and the extension of AFCI requirements to lighting circuits are also likely to change how cottages are wired in the future.
This story originally appeared in our Sept/Oct ’24 issue.
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