How the new PDL AFDD prevents house fires

Paul’s electrical safety problem

Christchurch homeowner Paul Griggs had decided to sell his family’s newly renovated home, the Woolston home. However, he was dismayed to discover serious problems with the home’s switchboard. Not only was it dated, but the breakers inside the switchboard were also ceramic.

PDL’s AFDD-RCBOs: The ultimate electrical protection

The answer was PDL by Schneider Electric’s Arc Fault Detection RCBO (AFDD-RCBOs).

What are Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFFDs)?

Arc faults can occur when cables become damaged, often when squashed underneath or behind furniture, or simply through poor connections or old wiring. The insulation inside the damaged cable lets current leak out, generating heat and carbonising the material around it, which then becomes more conductive and generates a bigger arc that is invisible to those in the home until the cable or socket catch fire.

An Arc Fault Detection Device (AFDD) monitors a home’s circuits for electrical arcs. If it finds anything dangerous, it will trip the home’s electricity to disconnect the faulty circuit before it can cause a fire.

AFDDs’ ability to detect these arcs before a fire starts means they have been approved by many insurance companies as a way of mitigating risk. They’re particularly useful for:

• Older homes
• Wooden homes
• Properties housing occupants with limited mobility
• Rentals where tenants are plugging in multiple devices

While RCDs and circuit breakers are standard additions to switchboards in New Zealand, AFDDs are still a relatively new concept here, despite having been mandatory in Canada and the USA for several years.

Peter Matthews of PPM Electrical Services in Christchurch (an electrician and electrical Inspector) carried out the installation and says that the combination device is a useful tool for homes. “Arc fault detection is still a relatively new concept for New Zealanders and it’s a good one. They [arc faults] can happen in a newer site too, so it’s a very good idea.”

Matthews was also impressed by how easy the AFDD-RCBOs were to install and the fact that they detected an issue straight away. “It ‘red flagged’ it, so as soon as I turned it on it wouldn’t set,” he explains. “Through more investigation I found that particular circuit hadn’t been rewired as I’d been led to believe, and it was tripping on the residual function of the AFDD.”

The aftermath of Paul’s project

Paul Griggs says he was delighted with the result the AFDD-RCBO installation provided. “Once the work was completed, we had a robust and sound electrical system. If any issues arise in future, they’ll be immediately identifiable and repairable.”

The property sold for its asking price and Griggs says the installation of the AFDD-RCBOs gave everyone involved peace of mind and saved his family the significant expense of a full rewire.

“We had a better deal from the electrician due to ease of install, easy compliance sign-off and easier dealings with our insurance, plus the new owners’ insurance,” he says. “We can all sleep a lot better at night too, knowing this house should never burn down due to old or faulty wiring.”