Arc Fault Circuit Breaker
Manufacturers
This whole business of arc fault breakers
started back in the early 1990s. Changes in the National Electric Code often
happen slowly and methodically. This is not a bad thing. One of the reasons it
takes a while to initiate a change is the time it takes manufacturers to ramp up
for production. It is unreasonable to expect a manufacturer to develop and
produce in mass quantities a high quality product in less than a couple of
years. Electrical equipment is even more critical. It needs to undergo extensive
testing.
Even though ALL electrical panel and circuit
breaker manufacturers have known all about arc fault breakers and the fact that
they are a new addition to the National Electric Code, I could only find four
companies that currently manufacture them.
Soon ALL electrical panel and breaker
companies will have them on their shelves, especially any electrical company who
wants to sell product in the state of Vermont. Vermont is requiring these
devices to be installed in all new construction six months from now! If you
don't see your panel manufacturer below, contact your local electrical supply
houses every 30 days to see when the breakers might be available.
But don't give up! Some breakers fit into
other brand load centers! For example, I went to the Cutler Hammer website and
found out that their AFCI breakers will fit into Westinghouse, Bryant, and
Challenger load centers!
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Eaton Electrical/Cutler
Hammer
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General
Electric
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Siemens
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Square
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