The Arc Fault Detection Device (AFDD)

All about the AFDD (or AFCI).
Also available in article form on my website with some updated information:

Device kindly supplied to me by Electrium following an request I made on Twitter to Electrium, Eaton and Schneider. This is not a paid promotion.

[GSHElectrical]

I have shared your video with my learners... thanks for all your hard work great content Gaz 🙌.

[NivagSwerdna]

Just watching the back catalogue of videos and found this gem... DASWACAN 1000... what a fine piece of British Engineering!

[GordonjSmith]

I thought that this was a very informative and engaging video. I live in Northern Europe, and have just had my consumer unit changed. The sparks and I discussed the AFDD for the circuit covering the extractor fan in the bathroom for exactly the reasons mentioned. He plans to add one later this week. Now I understand why.

[rossmurdoch]

This was a properly educational video David. Clear and well designed, brilliant.

[davidroche]

Wow, i love the DASWACAN 1000 makes me feel like everything is awesome

[reactionary]

I learnt a lot from this. You are a fantastic teacher.

[trcostan]

Here in America we have standardized the 1 inch breaker that’s interchangeable. So in theory all the boxes can use breakers from multiple manufacturers

[BurtMeister]

"Everything is awesome! Everything is cool when your part of a team. Everything is your living on a dream".

Seriously though, the NIC should pay you lots of money and use this video for education purposes, after asking your permission of course. Well cool!

P.S. When will the DASWACAN2000 be on the market and will it be integrated in metal clad fuse boards?

[electricalnews]

Μπράβο φίλε μου. Ευχαριστούμε για την ανάλυση.

[stevedebbiemoore]

Love the content of all your offerings D.S. also the fact that you think I'm sober😂👍👍👍

[frankmcalinden]

its saturday afternoon here ...and im having a beer watching your video ..;-)....Got really excited when you pulled out the electronics stuff....thought to myself ..cool another sparkie who, s into electronics ...

[psra]

hi David not watching sober as you said.. loved it and think 1.21 gigawatts

[stephenpower]

You are the lego master. What are we supposed to do if we install one of these afdd and six months later you receive a call say its gone off. There is no test equipment that I am aware of that can verify if it is working correctly, you can't detect an arc fault with an insulation tester.
You would be blindly opening up all the connections on a circuit to see if they are tight and thats assuming you can access them. Surely we need some expensive piece of measuring equipment that gives a bit more than a coloured light to go on.
Great video thanks for sharing

[Ice_Karma]

Everybody in your neighbourhood is probably angry at your spark-gap transmitter. XD

[davidclark]

Brilliant video David! Great sense of humour too. Would AFDDs work, on say, a lighting circuit with LEDs pulling a few milliamperes? I wonder what the trip differential is? What is the sensitivity? Also, how many milli seconds? I think this new 18th edition regs is the best ever. Real changes rather than the usual rhetoric changes. Good practical changes. I feel the industry is moving forward again after years and years of it being ruled by parsimonious accountants. Profits over safety. Us sparkles have been whinging for years about how shitty equipment is. I think these days are brilliant fresh air! Thanks for the video David!

[davidprice]

Finally an arc detector that actually works.. I'm still a bit dubious tho, thanks for the demo..

[graemescott]

Brilliant Dave :-) At one point I was almost sure you were going to poke your finger into the arc :-)

[FrontSideBus]

I've always looked at the way light switches are rated for AC only. Been tempted to whack a big rectifier in line with a 3kw heater and see what sort of mayhem occurs inside when you try and use a light switch to turn it off!

[allthegearnoidea]

I like your style and you’re Lego skill. Good man! Thanks Regards Chris

[TheEulerID]

The Eaton is actually half as much wider than this Crabtree unit, not one-third wider. That being that three is half as much bigger than two. Of course, two is one third smaller than three.