Why not use AFCI's in RVs?
First let me say I am not trolling or being a SA, I am not too familiar with AFCI's as they didn't hit the NEC until 1999 and I retired in 1995. If as our SE used to say, "if one safe device is good,...
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azpete wrote:
has any one read the new construction code.
in arizona, they are talking about r49 insulation for attics.
the only way to achieve thar is with 24 inches of foam.
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R40 insulation in ceilings is nothing special and has been required in Canada for years. R49 can easily done with batt or blown-in insulation but you need a cavity depth for 16" or more. Just google R49 insulation....
I'm not sure why anyone would remove AFCI's from a home if they were required by code. If anything happened, they would be liable. If there are nuisance trips, the problem could be what's plugged in. Things like surge protectors, fluorescent lights and lighting controls with an LED display can trip an AFCI. If unplugging things does not cure nuisance tripping, then the next step would be to replace the AFCI. I suspect some electricians cheat and extend AFCI circuit wiring to other circuits outside a bedroom to save money, thus increasing the possibility of nuisance tripping. The code committees would only have come up with AFCIs if there were enough instances of arc faults in bedrooms across the country causing serious issues.
In a house, AFCIs are only required for bedroom receptacles. That would mean more wiring in an RV. Connecting these to other receptacles elsewhere in an RV would be inviting nuisance tripping. I can't really see the value of them in an RV.
My question is why they don't use a single pole 30 amp GFCI for a main breaker and protect everything against a ground fault? Cost would be one reason why not.
Even though the NEC may apply to RVs, one problem I see is that they don't get inspected by the local electrical safety authority. Some things done in RVs that would never pass inspection in a house.
