AFCI breaker
- Thread starter cpballer
- Start date
alton
Well-known member
I almost made that statement but, since the owner is placing an aquarium in there basement the inspector could make the argument it is now classified as a recreation room, not basement. Also in definitions the word AHJ, Authority Having Jurisdiction comes to mind
nereefpat
New member
We need to know if this is a newly constructed house.
If it's a new house, then any bathroom, kitchen, or unfinished floor (concrete) needs GFCI protection. Everything else is considered living space and needs AFCI protection.
If the house isn't new construction, and there was already a standard outlet in place, you can replace that outlet with a GFCI.
That's my understanding anyway.
nereefpat
New member
What part of my post is incorrect?
jason2459
Well-known member
I have had 0 issues with mine tripping. It is a good thing to have and I would suggest a CAFCI in combination with a GFCI. Heaters are the devil and probably have caused the most issues but other things like power strips have caused fire hazards as well as other equipment under our tanks and over like lighting.
I would also suggest a CAFCI along with GFCI
CAFCI will help protect your house from fire
GFCI will help protect you from electrocution
And a good surge protector will help protect your equipment.
Individual one shown above. Tripplite makes some good ones.
Plus a whole home. None last forever and will need replaced eventually based on how many surges and intensity of surges they've been hit by. Surges can come from outside your home, not just lightening strikes, and from inside the home.
Eaton Ultra and SquareD hepd80 are a couple good whole home surge protectors.
Plus having more then one circuit with life support spread across them. I have two additional circuits then what's pictured above to my main tank on the first floor with GFCI at the receptacles so its easier to reset them if tripped. Then the two shown in the picture above go to my basement sump with the GFCI at the breaker. Along with being a CAFCI. There are also AFCI breakers but don't protect against as many arc faults as a CAFCI.
And don't get confused by combination AFCI (CAFCI). That doesn't mean it combines GFCI with it. The packaging has to specify GFCI as well to support both CAFCI and GFCI. Sometimes called dual.
Here's some visuals
And CAFCI protects against both of these where AFCI only parallel
mcgyvr
New member
And by "plugs" you mean "outlets" or "receptacles" right?
And is the basement finished or unfinished?
And are you in the US?
What year NEC does your city follow?
And where is the switch (all switches if 3 way,etc..) for the basement lights located?
Frankly I would trust the city/AHJ/Inspector.. Its their job and their call..
But as stated an AFCI breaker with individual GFCI outlet should be just fine too..
AFCI devices are very reliable now and should not nuisance trip.
And is the basement finished or unfinished?
And are you in the US?
What year NEC does your city follow?
And where is the switch (all switches if 3 way,etc..) for the basement lights located?
Frankly I would trust the city/AHJ/Inspector.. Its their job and their call..
But as stated an AFCI breaker with individual GFCI outlet should be just fine too..
AFCI devices are very reliable now and should not nuisance trip.
nereefpat
New member
In a 2016 house in a finished basement, the receps are probably on a AFCI breaker. If you want the new recep(new GFCI) on the same circuit, you can tie into the existing outlets. The new outlet would then be protected. If you want the new recep (new GFCI) to have it's own circuit, then it will need it's own new AFCI breaker.
leheath
New member
My house is a new build (completed end of 2015) and my living room outlets (where my tank is) are on AFCI breakers. Initially, I think I got a bad batch of breakers. They tripped a lot, for no apparent reason, and caused some tank deaths when I was out of town and it tripped for no reason. The builders came back and replaced all the AFCI breakers with a different make and they have been fine ever since (over a year).
jason2459
Well-known member
If you're going to add 1 new circuit I would go ahead and add two. Spread your life support across both.
I dont know if its a dumb question but do i need 2 breakers if i install 2 outlets?
jason2459
Well-known member
No, you can install 2 or more outlets on a single circuit but if that circuit pops then everything on that circuit stops running.
Since you are looking at installing a new breaker > circuit then may as run two of them and one or more outlets on each. If one pops not everything will be shutoff.
I've got 4 dedicated circuits for my tank since I have my sump in my basement. 2 for the display and 2 for the sump area.
So, in the display I have a circulation pump on one breaker and another on the other breaker. Same with the lighting split between the two.
In the basement I have my return pump, ATO, dosing pump, heater, and skimmer on one and my ATS, another heater, and reactor like pumps on another. If the return breaker pops then at least the ATS and reactors are still moving water in the sump so nothing in there dies.
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