Abstract: A wiring fault detector adapted specifically to address the requirement for arc fault protection specified in National Electrical Code (2011) article 690.11 comprises running at least one additional wire in parallel with the power conductors to be protected, thereby allowing evaluation at the location of a fault detector of an electrical parameter indicative of conductor integrity along its whole length. In one implementation, the additional conductor allows the voltage drop across the power conductor to be measured and verified to be small and/or noise-free. In another implementation, the additional conductor is a redundant power conductor connected in parallel with the main power conductor, allowing verification that the current flow in both the main and the additional power conductors is partitioned in an expected ratio indicative of wiring integrity.

Abstract: A wiring fault detector adapted specifically to address the requirement for arc fault protection specified in National Electrical Code (2011) article 690.11 comprises running at least one additional wire in parallel with the power conductors to be protected, thereby allowing evaluation at the location of a fault detector of an electrical parameter indicative of conductor integrity along its whole length. In one implementation, the additional conductor allows the voltage drop across the power conductor to be measured and verified to be small and/or noise-free. In another implementation, the additional conductor is a redundant power conductor connected in parallel with the main power conductor, allowing verification that the current flow in both the main and the additional power conductors is partitioned in an expected ratio indicative of wiring integrity.