Arc detection

Redirect appreciated if needed.

How does an arc fault circuit interruptor work? What does it do in
order to detect an arc?

So far, nobody, not even the dealer of our electric supplies has been
able to explain how an arc fault circuit interruptor works. I've not
found the answer on the internet either. The explanations say "unique
circuitry," or "arc detection technology" and other vague words that do
not explain _how_ it works, only what it does.

On 2005-12-05, Ryan <quakeserver149@yahoo.com> wrote:

Redirect appreciated if needed.

How does an arc fault circuit interruptor work? What does it do in
order to detect an arc?

I'm going to guess... high frequencies dominating the current
draw.

So far, nobody, not even the dealer of our electric supplies has been
able to explain how an arc fault circuit interruptor works. I've not
found the answer on the internet either. The explanations say "unique
circuitry," or "arc detection technology" and other vague words that do
not explain _how_ it works, only what it does.

You may need to search for patents to get the real info.

Bye.
Jasen

An ARC fault detector in common home circuits utilizes a
current-sense-transformer with the 115AC wire and the nuetral wire
both passing through it. If there is any current flowing through the
115V wire which is not also flowing back through the nuetral wire,
then this current is obviously going somewhere else back to ground.
(from the cheap chinese grinder I bought on ebay, through my body,
into the garage floor to earth). The secondary of the transformer is
hundreds of windings which converts the current unbalance to a
current output. If this is above a certain threshold, a timer starts
and several milliseconds later a relay is opened to stop the power.