AFCI wiring

[Ross/Kzoo]

I just noticed that my new sub panel is not neutral ready like my main panel. The AFCI's that I bought for my sub panel does not have the pigtail. Can I run a neutral from the terminal that already contains the circuit neutral and run another neutral from there to the panel neutral?

 

[alfredeneuman]

No you can't.
It would render the AFCI useless, because the neutral has to run through the AFCI in order for it to work

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

No, the neutral from the circuit would run to the neutral terminal on the AFCI and an additional wire run from the neutral terminal on the AFCI to the neutral bar.

 

[alfredeneuman]

No, the neutral from the circuit would run to the neutral terminal on the AFCI and an additional wire run from the neutral terminal on the AFCI to the neutral bar.

Unless there are 2 Neutral terminals on the AFCI, it would be like splicing the wires together, and attaching them directly to the neutral bar.

It's got to run through the AFCI, not just be attached to it. That's why it has a pigtail in the first place.

 

[pattenp]

Are you sure you got AFCI breakers? There should be 2 neutral connection points on the breaker plus the load connection. Plus I'm not sure what you mean by the panel not being neutral ready.

 

[alfredeneuman]

It's a new thing. There are "neutral ready" panels that have a neutral bus run right with the phase busing in addition to the regular neutral bars.
There are special breakers that connect right to the neutral bus, thus eliminating the pigtails on AFCI and GFCI breakers

http://www.schneider-electric.com/p...ential/62053-qo-plug-on-neutral-load-centers/

 

[Mustang51js]

Need to return those breakers and get the old style

 

[teamextreme]

It's a new thing. There are "neutral ready" panels that have a neutral bus run right with the phase busing in addition to the regular neutral bars.
There are special breakers that connect right to the neutral bus, thus eliminating the pigtails on AFCI and GFCI breakers

http://www.schneider-electric.com/p...ential/62053-qo-plug-on-neutral-load-centers/

I learned something new today! Thanks. OP's original statement about AFCI's with no pigtail made no sense. Now it makes sense.

 

[bczygan]

http://www.graybar.com/manufacturers/schneider/squared/qo-plug-on-neutral-load-centers-cafi-circuit-breakers

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCYQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DrkgbKSHDqzI&ei=aPgaVeC1GfiasQTThIHQDw&usg=AFQjCNExlJrMh4_B2bHc0gVjSobP5xfFAQ&sig2=i3lfuvsSmOGoifafrLvVig&bvm=bv.89744112,d.cWc

http://www.homedepot.com/s/qo%2520cafci?NCNI-5

Here is info.

 

[ddawg16]

It's a new thing. There are "neutral ready" panels that have a neutral bus run right with the phase busing in addition to the regular neutral bars.
There are special breakers that connect right to the neutral bus, thus eliminating the pigtails on AFCI and GFCI breakers

http://www.schneider-electric.com/p...ential/62053-qo-plug-on-neutral-load-centers/

Yep....learn something every day........thanks al

I was wondering how long it would be before someone did that. When you think about it....considering most of the breakers now are going to be AFCI or GFCI, might as well let you wire your load straight to the breaker. I can see how it would make a panel a lot cleaner looking.

 

[pattenp]

I learned something new today! Thanks. OP's original statement about AFCI's with no pigtail made no sense. Now it makes sense.

Me too. Didn't know that feature existed.