Overview Note
Siemens duplex AFCI breakers allow for more circuits in a smaller load center. Installed indicator flags disappear when the load wires are inserted correctly. Siemens CAFCI plug-on breakers have a single load lugs with the neutral lug removed. These breakers can be installed in the same manner as the thermal magnetic breakers and allows the installer to land ground and neutral conductors in the load center before installing the breaker and load conductor. These duplex AFCI breakers do not have the rejection feature can be installed in any panel that lists that breaker type or where a substitution letter exists for that breaker type. The schematic, located on the wiring diagram, will indicate the positions where these breakers can be placed by showing two circuits per space. The total circuits listed for panel should not be exceeded.
Breakers with AFC suffix provide standard thermal/magnetic protection, PLUS protection against heat damage caused by parallel AND SERIES arcing in the circuit. A series arc occurs when electricity jumps the gap between the strands within the same wire. An example of what may cause a series arc is when an extension cord is damaged because it has been smashed between furniture and the wall, cracking the insulation and exposing strands within one wire. Arcing may occur strand to strand. Breakers designed to protect against parallel and series arcs are called Combination Arc-Fault Circuit Breakers