How Does Arc Fault Detection Device (AFDD) Can Minimize Electrical Fire?
Many documented and unreported fire catastrophes occurred in few years before the widespread adoption of arc fault detecting devices (AFDD) in electrical installations. The reported cases of electrical fires have decreased dramatically since arc default detection systems have become more widely used.
AFDD has reduced the loss that has been experienced by enterprises, Museums, galleries that have irreplaceable goods, and domestic families when their residences and businesses were destroyed by unanticipated fires. However, using the AFFD does not preclude the possibility of electric fires.
As traditional circuit breakers do not provide reliable arc fault protection. This is since they are not intended to detect sudden deadly electrical discharges, but rather to protect against short circuits and overloads.
Even if you keep cords out of harm’s way and use only authorized plugs and adapters, arc fault conditions can develop out of sight. In most structures, power usage varies between peak and standby periods. Such patterns strain cables and connections, causing the insulation to wear out and wires to loosen. As a result, weak places in your installation develop. Electrical arcs form in this area.
What Does exactly AFDD stand for, and what is it used for?
An Arc Fault Detection Device (AFDD) detects dangerous electrical arcs and shuts down the affected circuit.
What exactly is Arc Fault Detection?
Fault detection is the process of identifying defaults that might cause electrical sparks and fires. To prevent the system from arc faults, the electrician installs arc fault detecting devices, also known as circuit breakers, during the electrical wiring.
They, as the name suggests, interrupt the current flow and reduce current. AFDD detect any defaults or overcurrent and act as a switch to reduce current flow.
Before you can move on to defective arc detection devices (AFDD), you must first comprehend the fundamental terminology, such as arc and what is an Arc?
When an electrical current leaps the space between two non-conducting materials, such as air, an electrical arc is generated, and if the voltage is relatively low, a spark is produced. However, if the voltage is high enough, a continuous electrical arc is formed, in which the air converts from a gas to a plasma capable of supporting the arc. This arc may generate temperatures over 6000°C.
Then current ionizes the air particles, which leads causes a rise in temperature, hot enough to cause an electric fire. When current flows through a gap between conductors in installed electrical wiring, arcs form, and then this gap can result from a worn-out electrical wire, a loose connection of the wires, and a damaged insulator.
Kinds of Arc Fault Detectors Devices (AFDD):
There are two kinds of arc fault detectors; are as follows:
Parallel Arc
Arc faults can cause strain on cables, connections, plugs, and adapters, whereas a parallel arc fault occurs when a live wire hits a neutral conductor, which includes the earth’s surface. When this kind of fault occurs, any residual current device installed in the AFDD will cut off the current supply to the affected circuit out of their insulators, and exposing the cables makes you weak.
Series Arc
Allying two pieces of the same conductor when an arc occurs, such as a poorly terminated line conductor in an accessory terminal, such as a damaged line conductor, or such a socket, is referred to as a series arc defect.
Arc Characteristics
Time: Time is used to characterize an arc fault. The distortion caused by arcing is not transient.
Signature: The presence of an arc causes a random distortion of the electric signal, resulting in low and high disturbances, as is the electrical motor’s signature (a signature is not specific), then this phenomenon is not consistent
Target identification: Arcing current becomes dangerous at 2.5A and 230V. At this voltage, devices with overcurrent protection could not detect the hazardous arcing currents capable of starting electrical fires.
In market place what type of AFDDs are Aavailable?
There are different types of AFDDs available with unique capacities, like:
RCD with type A
Tripping curves include the B, C, BK, and CK curves with the name
RCD with Types A
In the RCD type; the market only has one RCD type, type A. Type A is designed in a unique way that it can cut the flow of power when there is a subsequent high electric power wave, ranging waves of electricity whether they are rising quickly or slowly.
Tripping Curves
In times of overload and humping electric power, the B curve protects. The C curve spans 5 to 10 inches. It protects against overload and humping electricity waves.