[Thomas Kleaton]

Hi! My wife and I are adding a new LG stackable washer & dryer to the second floor of our 1963 split-level home. Electrical has been upgraded with new breaker panel installed before we bought the house last year.

The laundry area will be in what was a closet in the main bathroom. In wiring for the washer, I would be using 12-2 with ground. I know you're supposed to use AFCI outlets now in laundry areas and am wondering if this is required, or if a GFCI breaker or outlet needs to be used. The washer outlet will be a dedicated circuit, and it is within 6' of the double-sink vanity.

The only other wiring in this bathroom is a 15 amp circuit with 14-2 & ground for LED/vanity lighting and exhaust fan, and a 20 amp dedicated circuit with 12-2 & ground supplying two GFCI outlets in this bathroom and one GFCI outlet in an adjacent bathroom.

 

[Chris616]

As you’re probably aware, there have been changes to regulations regarding AFCI usage with more recent versions of the NEC and CEC. It seems that Alabama doesn’t have a state wide electrical standard, so you’ll need to detail which version of the code is used where you live before the NEC knowledgeable people on the board can answer your question. See the first alphabetical listing on the following website.
https://iaeimagazine.org/magazine/nec-code-adoption/united-states/

Chris

 

[Thomas Kleaton]

As you’re probably aware, there have been changes to regulations regarding AFCI usage with more recent versions of the NEC and CEC. It seems that Alabama doesn’t have a state wide electrical standard, so you’ll need to detail which version of the code is used where you live before the NEC knowledgeable people on the board can answer your question. See the first alphabetical listing on the following website.
https://iaeimagazine.org/magazine/nec-code-adoption/united-states/

Chris

Thanks, Chris! It seems Lee County, where I live, is under NEC 2014. If I am correct, I could just use a 20 amp GFCI. I wonder, though, if I really should install an AFCI breaker or outlet. There was just a regular outlet, no GFCI, in what was the laundry area.

 

[More Power!]

The last GFCI breaker I replaced was with a combined GFCI/AFCI breaker.

 

[Thomas Kleaton]

The last GFCI breaker I replaced was with a combined GFCI/AFCI breaker.

I read one article that said a combination arc-fault circuit breaker doesn't provide the protection of a 1-pole dual function breaker. I assume you mean the dual function breaker. I didn't know they existed.

 

[More Power!]

This is what I installed: 15-Amp AFCI/GFCI Dual Function-Circuit Breaker

I hadn't known they existed when I went to get a replacement for the faulty GFCI breaker I needed to replace, either.

 

[Thomas Kleaton]

This is what I installed: 15-Amp AFCI/GFCI Dual Function-Circuit Breaker

I hadn't known they existed when I went to get a replacement for the faulty GFCI breaker I needed to replace, either.

You know more about this than I do, so thanks for the info!

 

[ablodneyget]

Hi! My wife and I are adding a new LG stackable washer & dryer to the second floor of our 1963 split-level home. Electrical has been upgraded with new breaker panel installed before we bought the house last year.

The laundry area will be in what was a closet in the main bathroom. In wiring for the washer, I would be using 12-2 with ground. I know you're supposed to use AFCI outlets now in laundry areas and am wondering if this is required, or if a GFCI breaker or outlet needs to be used.

Under NEC 2014 you'll need both AFCI and GFCI protection for the laundry closet, and it needs to have its own breaker. You can have more than one receptacle for the laundry area on a single breaker, but it needs to be dedicated to the laundry area.

You can use an AFCI breaker with a GFCI receptacle, or you can use a dual-function breaker and standard receptacles.

I had issues with my brand new washing machine tripping a dual-function breaker and was able to solve it with a $10 plug-in line filter.

 

[Thomas Kleaton]

AFCI breaker and GFCI outlet may be the ticket. It would save a little room in the breaker box, at any rate.

 

[More Power!]

AFCI breaker and GFCI outlet may be the ticket. It would save a little room in the breaker box, at any rate.

The replacement GFCI/AFCI breaker I bought fit exactly where the GFCI breaker it replaced went.

It may or may not be compatible with your distribution panel. Don't know if anybody other than Siemens makes them.

 

[Thomas Kleaton]

I have a Square D panel. like you said, unsure if anyone but Siemens makes these.

 

[Luke M]

AFCI breaker and GFCI outlet may be the ticket. It would save a little room in the breaker box, at any rate.

It won't save any space.

 

[Missouri Bound]

The NEC can get a bit confusing. They require the GFCI for the "laundry area" but not necessarily for the machine. If you have just the machine it can be interpreted as not needing the GFCI. But if you have a laundry tub, AKA a "laundry area" then any additional outlet needs to be fault protected. Regardless, your local inspector may give you grief if you don't supply one.

 

[Thomas Kleaton]

Stackable washer and dryer are going in a closet in the main bathroom. There will be four outlets in this area; two of them GFCI outlets on a dedicated 20-amp circuit with 12-2 (and ground) wiring around the double sink vanity. The other two will be in the laundry "closet". One will be the dryer outlet, and it looks like for the washer I need to install a regular outlet fed by 12-2 w/ground NM-B wiring connected to a dual function AFCI/GFCI breaker.

There is no inspector as I am not a contractor. That's why I'm making sure I install the correct components.

 

[seharper]

I have a Square D panel. like you said, unsure if anyone but Siemens makes [DF AFCI/GFCI].

Yes, you can get both CAFCI and Dual Function AFCI+GFCI breakers in Square D, for both QO and HOMeline types.

For "QO" panels (3/4" breakers) Square D is your only option.

For "HOMeline", you can get CAFCIs from a competitor. Eaton makes a weird line, only found at Eaton dealers, called CL. These are UL-Classified to work in a Square D HOMeline panel. For CAFCIs you can use CL120CAF or CL115CAF. Do not put the common Eaton BR in a Square D panel.

In the interests of having zero LEDs on the breaker, you have to do their so-called "Time Saver" dance to tell if it's a GFCI, AFCI or overcurrent trip. And this only works on their newer ones. Make sure the button is white or violet.

 

[jeffnc]

I kind of like having the GFCI on the outlet itself, especially if I have to go outside to get to the breaker box. But anyway, at least you know right away if the outlet is tripped without having to make a separate trip.