AFCI
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Electronics & Electrical
| Stands for | Arc-fault circuit interrupter |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
AFCI stands for Arc-fault circuit interrupter, an electronics & electrical abbreviation.
Circuit breaker or outlet that detects the electrical signature of dangerous arcing, from damaged cords, loose connections or nails through cables, and cuts power before a fire starts. The US National Electrical Code requires AFCI protection for bedroom circuits and, increasingly, most living areas.
Example: The AFCI breaker kept tripping until the electrician found a cracked extension cord behind the bed.
Usage notes
Bedroom AFCI requirements first appeared in the 1999 NEC, taking effect in 2002, and have since expanded to most rooms of new homes. Combination AFCIs detect both series and parallel arcs. Some electronics and motors can cause nuisance tripping.
Related abbreviations
More electronics & electrical abbreviations
- AC – Alternating current
- ADC – Analog-to-digital converter
- AM – Amplitude modulation
- AMOLED – Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode
- ASIC – Application-specific integrated circuit
- AWG – American wire gauge
- BGA – Ball grid array
- BJT – Bipolar junction transistor
- BLDC – Brushless DC motor
- CMOS – Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor
- CPLD – Complex programmable logic device
- CT – Current transformer