ABSTRACT

In residential applications a short circuit arcing fault is commonly referred to as a “parallel” arc fault. This “parallel” short-circuit arc generally produces a high current fault with a magnitude that depends on the available short-circuit current. Many arcing fault properties have been discussed along with their effect on arc fault detection. Since the late 1980s, research on mitigating residential electrical fires produced from electrical arcing faults has led to the development of the first commercially available Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter in 1999. Glowing connections can form at the interface of an electrical connection and are characterized by an incandescent orange glow of molten oxide. Arcing faults in electrical wiring can occur for a wide variety of different reasons. Many times arcing faults can lead to electrically initiated fires, especially in residential settings, where loss of life is more likely than in an office or industrial setting.