can i install a AFCI breaker in place of a regular breaker. It looks much larger than the breakers in the box.

Answer 1

Yes you can.The only difference is you have to wire the white wire,to the nuetral bus bar.If it looks bigger,make sur you have a single pole to replace a single pole,and a double pole to replace a double pole.You have to also make sure you replace the breaker with a brand that will fit the make of the breaker you have (I.E. Cutler hammer,GE,Federal Pacific.Not all G.F.C.I. ( which stands for: "Ground Fault Circuit Interupter") not AFCI.They make them for individual cicuits or a whole house (main breaker) The main units usually cost @ $100.00

Answer 2

An AFCI can be installed in place of a normal circuit breaker but there are a few considerations. You pretty much have to stay with not only the same brand but the same product line. As an example Square D makes both QO and Homeline breakers and panels, they are not interchangeable. An AFCI includes a GFCI function so if you have already installed a GFCI receptacle in a circuit, it should be removed. Normally when replacing a breaker you just lift the black and/or red wire and replace it on the new breaker. An AFCI means you will also need to move the white wire from the neutral connector strip to the AFCI itself. You will then connect the AFCI's wire to that neutral strip in place of the original white circuit wire.

Answer 3

As mentioned above, Yes you can install the AFCI breaker in place of the regular breaker. You may have to move some wires to make room and sometimes the neutral bar and ground bars make it real tight. You need to get the same manufacturer and breaker type for your panel. ex. Square D Homeline or Square D QO, there are several brands and even different types from the same manufacturer. AFCI stands for Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter. See this website for FAQ, http://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsarchive/AFCI-HTML/HTML/AFCI_Questions_and_Answers~20030301.htm

Answer 4

one thing everyone overlooked. The breakers you have may be slimline. Replacement breakers for boxes that are full. They allow you to add wires to a full box. If this is what you have you probably can't

Answer 5

I don't know for sure. They do claim they will fit, but if they are too big, maybe they are wrong.

The husband of the woman I call my foster daughter works for Square-D, and he ran final test for UL when they approved them for use.

I think you have to get them of the same brand as your existing breaker, and do not know if they are available for all brands.

Answer 6

Best answer...Brilliant, Dave P., tie! Excellent collaboration!