AFCI Breaker Support Fans and Bathroom

[gbeichho]

Location: Ontario, Cottage

I've noticed that new code requires AFCI protected circuits in bedroom recepticles.

I've got a bedroom + bathroom wired on a single ciruit. This includes:
1) Bedroom Recepticles
2) Ceiling Fan
3) Bedroom Light
4) Bathroom Light (flourescent)
5) Bathroom GFCI recepticle
6) Bathroom Fan

Will the AFCI breaker handle all these types of loads? I have enough room in the panel to add an AFCI breaker (it takes up 2 slots).

I was going to supply 2 other bedroom circuits with 14/3, but I'm assuming now, that AFCI needs 2 wires per circuit. Can I include a couple of non-bedroom lights (i.e. outside light) on the AFCI circuit?

Thanks,

George

[Homer]

Yes, an AFCI breaker can handle those different types of loads.

You were asking about a 14/3 multiwire circuit for other bedrooms. You would need a double pole AFCI breaker for that and they're only available for some panels and they're costly. (Just like the double pole GFCI breakers.)

You can include any other general use luminaires and receptacles on the bedroom circuit except those specificly mentioned elsewhere (for example kitchen counter receptacles).

Homer

[gbeichho]

I'm curious if people typically wire the whole room on one circuit now, or if they're actually separating recepticles from lighting to meet the AFCI requirement. In my case, since it's a small dwelling I will likely do a combination because I want to limit the number of AFCI breakers but I don't want to have to re-wire all the walls either...

George

[Homer]

I'm curious if people typically wire the whole room on one circuit now, or if they're actually separating recepticles from lighting to meet the AFCI requirement....
In the US, the luminaires and smoke detectors also must be AFCI protected but in Canada only bedroom receptacles need this protection.

Homer

[gbeichho]

That's very interesting. I'm curious why the NEC feels the need to protect fire alarms and luminaries while the CEC doesn't. Is the CEC a cycle behind on that one? I know they only do major updates every x years. I do plan on having one circuit power new smoke and CO detectors.

[tarajassal]

Dear senior mamber,

What will happen in fire alarm system if end of line resister is shorted?

Will it give a general alrm or will it give a trouble alarm?

[Homer]

Dear senior member,

What will happen in fire alarm system if the end of line resistor is shorted?

Will it give a general alarm or will it give a trouble alarm?You can check this link (http://www.dependablealarm.com/faqs.htm) out.

A fire alarm system uses normally open contacts in parallel with an EOL resistor also in parallel. An alarm triggers when one of the contacts closes. So if you short the EOL resistor it will be the same as if one of the contacts closed and you will get an actual alarm.

A burglar alarm system uses normally closed contacts in series with an EOL resistor also in series. So if you short the EOL resistor in this case, the panel will detect an error but not an opening of the contacts as the resistance will drop to zero from the EOL value. The panel detects an opening of the contacts (alarm condition) as an infinite resistance (open circuit).

Homer