Questions and Answers for Eaton BR 20 Amp Single-Pole Combination Arc Fault Circuit Breaker

A:  Yes, but only the Cutler-Hammer BR series panels and not the Cutler-Hammer CH series panels.

A:  Yes it does, any BR type. Will not fit CH type.

A:  What you suggest is not suitable and will not work. When using single pole AFCI breakers each circuit must have a dedicated neutral conductor. However, Eaton does make both Type CH and BR series 2-pole AFCI circuit breakers. The Type BR 2-pole AFCI breaker should work for you.

A:  If you are sure your older AFCI breaker is bad, replace it with this newer version. The most common complaint with the early version was nuisance trips and the newer technology has all but eliminated those problems. This newer version is a combination AFCI breaker meaning it protects against both parallel and series arcing.

A:  Type BRAF is the early generation of Eaton AFCI breakers so if that is what you have, you DO NOT have the combination type AFCI breaker. The combination type AFCI breaker is this one which is a Type BRCAF. The older Type BRAF version is no longer available.

A:  Thanks for the help on this. Knowing I have an old version that is not available, I need to know if I replace it with this BR breaker of ? Thanks!

A:  Your old yellow label BRAF were a first generation AFCI breaker that has been replaced with the newest generation Combination AFCI circuit breakers. The Combination type protects against both series and parallel arcing where the first generation only protected against parallel arcing. The blue label breakers in your picture are of the dual function AFCI/GFCI type and are rarely needed. Unless you specifically need the GFCI protection on those circuits I'd replace them with Combination AFCI breakers. All are available in stock at almost all HD stores.

A:  No, it isn't the same. The BRAF was from the first generation of arc fault breakers where this is a BRCAF which is the latest generation and replaces the older BRAF. This latest generation is a combination arc fault breaker which means it protects against both parallel and series arc faults. The BRAF only protected against parallel arc faults.

A:  One at 120V at 20 Amps... The wire you attach to it should be a 12AWG, that number can be found with good eyes or a magnifying glass on the wire itself... If you have a 14AWG to hook up, you need to buy the 15 Amp version

A:  This arc fault breaker is for one 20 amp 120 volt circuit.

A:  This is an arc fault circuit interrupting circuit breaker that does not perform a ground fault function. I would not expect a plug-in receptacle tester with a GFCI test button to trip any AFCI circuit breaker.

A:  Thank you TomB2 for your prompt and informative answer. I tested a spare AFCI "Combination" breaker with a desktop experiment: a 120V isolation transformer, a couple of DVMs, and a few different resistors. A 5.1K ohm resistor from hot output to neutral input doesn't trip it, a 4.7K ohm resistor will, so a ground fault of more than 24 mA is required to trip this AFCI Combination breaker. Next, I will learn about which branches ought to have Dual breakers instead of AFCI Combination breakers, both for maximum safety and future code compliance. Thanks again.

A:  Yes, the tester creates a ground fault, so unless the tester is no good the GFCI should trip, if it doesn't try other GFCIs to verify your tester is good, and return the bad GFCI as defective... I have an old tester that has a permanent ground fault, simply plugging it in trips the circuit...

A:  Keep in mind this is an arch fault and not a ground fault that said depending on the amount this may work for you.

A:  Yes, this is the correct AFCI breaker for your Westinghouse loadcenter.

A:  Yes, this is the correct arc fault breaker for your Westinghouse panel.