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RE: Arc fault interrupters have any affect on audio?

I have been using arc fault breakers (GE breakers in a GE panel) long before their use became mandatory. Back then the electrical supply houses did not even know what AFCI was and I had to have them special ordered. I have not detected any negative sonic effects with the GE AFCI breakers and I've experienced only one nuisance trip since I've been using them.

I can't speak for the design of other manufacturers' AFCI breakers but in the GE ones, the AFCI circuitry is not in the circuit path. When I upgraded from first to second generation breakers, I opened up the old ones to see what was inside. The AFCI breaker has two completely separate chambers with a standard mechanical breaker on one side and the AFCI circuitry on the next. The AFCI section has a solenoid with its armature going through a hole in the wall separating the two chambers of the breaker. Whenever arcing is detected, the armature trips the breaker mechanism, much like occurs with a mouse trap.





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  • RE: Arc fault interrupters have any affect on audio? - Glen B 04/14/0812:59:34 04/14/08 (0)

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