Where Should We Be Using Dual Function Breakers?

When installing circuitry into a residence, it is important to refer to the NEC to determine exactly what types of protection are needed. GFCI protection and AFCI protection being among them. But what about dual function breakers? In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin brings to light what a dual function breaker is and where would be the places to install them.

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Let’s discuss the difference between the standard GFCI breaker, a standard AFCI breaker, Combination breakers, and Dual Function breakers so there isn’t confusion with terminology. A standard GFCI breaker senses the difference between what’s going OUT to the load and what’s coming BACK and interrupts the circuit if there is a big enough difference to cause damage to personnel. There are 2 kinds of standard AFCI breakers. A Series AFCI breaker will sense if there is a break in a single wire (where there would be an arc from one side of that wire to the next) and will interrupt the circuit. A parallel AFCI breaker senses a small amount of arcing between a neutral and a hot of the same circuit (not enough to be a dead short but smaller arcing) and interrupts the circuit. A combination breaker has the capability to protect from BOTH Series AND Parallel arcs. And lastly, a Dual Function breaker will protect against Ground Faults AND Arc Faults.
The installation of a GFCI breaker isn’t specifically lined out in the NEC, just that GFCI protection for certain devices is required. Remember, GFCI protection is generally limited to the device, whereas AFCI protection is required for the entire circuit. Considering both the need to keep cost down AND convenience for the end user, a single GFCI breaker could take the place of several GFCI receptacles within a circuit or negate the need to run a large distance to protect the next receptacle in line of the GFCI device protecting it. In other words, a GFCI breaker will protect ALL the receptacles on the circuit. An AFCI breaker will do exactly the same thing, just from an Arc Fault standpoint in lieu of a Ground Fault.
Article 210.8(A) of the NEC covers GFCI requirements in a residential installation while article 210.12(B) covers AFCI requirements of the NEC. If you were to look in the code, you would see that several of those areas are required to have BOTH GFCI and AFCI protection. Enter the Dual Function Breaker. Take a residential kitchen for example. You could put a dual function breaker in several of the circuits in the kitchen, thus negating the need for an AFCI breaker AND a GFCI device.
Another reason to use a dual function breaker in lieu of both a breaker for AFCI protection and a GFCI device for protection is that the breakers tend to be a bit more robust and will fail less frequently than a device. Especially the WR GFCI breakers installed outside as they are constantly exposed to the elements. This, overtime, could amount to significant savings in replacement. As always, refer to the current version of the NEC to find the protection requirements for your situation as codes are reworked every 3 years. Also, it may be work answering customers questions as to why you would install a Dual Function breaker or individual devices. It certainly pays to help them understand why we install things the way we do.

[josheh]

These videos have been coming out just in time! Was looking to have an electrical panel replaced, and a few of your recent videos have helped answer a number of questions I had. I'm going to leave it up to an electrician to do the physical replacing, but now I have a better understanding of what I'm looking for in a replacement panel.

[Paul-jpzz]

I just did a big complete kitchen remodel and due to upcoming code changes and frankly, supply chain, I used dual function on every circuit - all appliances (except the 240v 50amp oven) lights and SABC's... Inspector said "yup, that's pretty much how ya gotta do it these days"...

[JosephMilici]

Was updating receptacles to TR in my family room and the breaker tripped out on AFCI as soon as I turned it back on. I went back and checked my wiring to find that when I had pulled the tab on the receptacle to enable half to be switch-controlled, it left a small burr that was arcing. The AFCI may have saved my bacon.

[morlamweb]

In my area, for Siemens breakers specifically (as I have a Siemens panel), the CAFCI / GFCI / dual-function breakers are the same price, $50 per breaker. I decided to go with dual-function breakers for most of the circuits because there's little benefit to going with CAFCI-only breakers. When I moved in to my house, there was only one GFCI breaker in the box, for the bathrooms, not even the kitchen or basement outlets. I've upgraded most of the breakers to dual-function slowly over time due to the cost.

[thebnbaldwin]

Thank you! Once again a great video. I am a handyman with decades of electrical experience in the Telecom industry. My customer's house was built in 2019 with EATON service panels (main and a sub panel for Casita and pool equips., etc.), and has 13 defective of 21 DF breakers (won't reset, tripping when no one is there for months at a time, they are AZ snowbirds from IA) or, the test button buzzes but won't trip the breaker. 4 of 9 GF breakers are defective. I made a chart to see what I can move around, replace a DF with a AF or GF, or even a standard breaker to save him some money. This video will help me do it but, in the end, I think it would have been less effort to just replace them all with what's there already. But then I would not have learn as much as I have about these damned things! P.S. Like the really old AFCIs, I think theses DFs are going through revisions to mitigate failures of this magnitude. Fingers crossed.

[Sembazuru]

Another advantage to putting the protection in the panel vs. as a device down the line (for example a GFCI outlet) is faults on the home run (like someone drilling through or putting a nail through the home run wire) should cause a trip instead of a death.

A minor disadvantage is if using a GFCI outlet tester, one has to return to where the panel is after checking each outlet instead of returning to the (hopefully nearby) GFCI outlet.

[sparky]

Just wired a basement, the wet bar area has a decorative stone wall. Had to put in 2 receptacles to meet code. I used a dual function breaker so I didn’t have a GFCI and duplex receptacle in the decorative wall. Now will have 2 matching duplex, just an aesthetic thing!

[jaymazza]

I believe I saw that the 2023 code was going to require EVERYTHING in a kitchen, basement and the exterior of a dwelling to be GFCI protected. The only exception would be where a manufacturer specifically states GFCI protection not be used due to incompatibility issues. But that will only be a temporary exemption as the manufacturers will need to address that issue.

[calvinjosey]

I cannot get enough of your videos, and appreciate them so much. I was curious if you have done a video on overload current protection on secondary conductors? I’ve been telling the apprentices I work with to watch your videos, and one of them just got a 66 on their last quiz pertaining to secondary conductor protection. Much thanks and please keep posting code videos!

[ivoted]

I'm a GC & learned useful techniques here. Thanks a lot. ;)

[chadrowland]

One of my favorite applications for combination AF/GF breakers is retractable hoses for central vacuums. Retractable hoses are wired to power 24/7 and it would not have a cord or plug. So, it will not be plugged into a receptacle. However, the code still requires AF protection for those. And, though it is hardwired, the hose still has a receptacle at the end. For central vacuum accessories that are hardwired, I just use a combination AF/GF breaker and call it a day. However, I go a step further. I put a wall switch for hardwired vacuum cleaner accessories. You shut it off when you are finished so, there is only power in the hose during cleaning.

[BlackfyreApprenticeX]

Would love to have a video about electrical in the Attic. What kind of box? Where can I mount it? Does romex just get stapled to the wood or do I drill holes through it? Etc...

[fwgmills]

A great example of arc-fault nuisance tripping is I have a humidifier that cycles on and off, but the bi-metalic strip that cycles the unit has 120v on it and it sparks and trips the breaker, and sometimes it will trip multiple breakers since all my arc-fault breakers are on the same phase. I have to just manually turn the humidifier on and off and keep the "humidity" dial at max so it won't pop the stupid breakers.

[stephendinan]

I always just use dual function breakers it makes my life easier for wiring panels and for the purchase of breakers

[jimmiegill]

I put duel function on everything ! They area a better breaker than the standard afci

[JohnThomas-lqqp]

Had a few older customers who had me remove GFCI breakers in hard for them to access basement panels to reset them. Installed GFCI on first box from panel.

[jimmyfox]

This is super detailed and a great educational tool for anyone looking to learn about arc fault/ground fault breakers. Has anyone dealt with Siemens afci/gfci dual breaker tripping? I have them in my kitchen and laundry rooms both of which trip for a blender and heat pump washer/dryer. I’m replacing both with an arc breaker and gfci blank in my crawlspace for the kitchen because they combined two receptacles there that need gfci protection. Anyone with info on those breakers would be great. I’ve tried replacing and they consistently trip no matter what but don’t trip on regular arcs or other gfci’s.

[G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Great video (as usual). Please stop at GFCI protection if you have a metal or wood working shop AND have tools with BRUSH motors. AFCI protection will cause nuisance tripping in this instance. I regularly use a 70-year-old Radial Arm Saw (RAS) in my production woodworking shop that is technically part of my dwelling (converted garage). The RAS, and all of my older routers (for example) still have motors with brushes. Most (all?) new tools are “brushless, ” so this will allow AFCI protection. It’s cost-prohibitive to replace all tools with brush-containing motors with new brushless ones. Thanks NEC for allowing this exception.

[RJ-ejnr]

Dual function is great for meeting both AFCI and GFCI requirements compactly and with lower cost than doing them separately. I don't like adding AFCI (via DF) in retrofits where not required due to nuisance tripping, but new is ok. The lack of requirement for AFCI in commercial environments implicitly shows their challenges in being used everywhere as a safety device.

[brotheradam]

I actually ran a 'blank face' gfci for my fridge and another for my freezer, both at height and space so they are visible, and labelled. My dishwasher and washing machine are the same- the gfci is above but behind the machine so it is visible and accessible.