Tracking a $20M Project: Problem Arises
By Mark Sipe
The project hits a snag with the arc fault circuits.

The big problem that came up today was Arc fault circuits; this will be biting a lot of people very soon if not already as cities enforce it, each in their own unique way.

Luckily for us in Scottsdale, Ariz., it only affects the bedroom loads, but in Phoenix proper every circuit in the "living space" needs arc fault protection.

The fallout from this is that a 20 amp circuit will only handle 1000 watts instead of 1920 watts; this means the cost of lighting control just went up, way up! No more 1200 or 1500 watt chandeliers. The impact could well be less lighting control until someone comes up with a better solution.

Once we had the answer to how our location would handle Arc Fault, we redesigned the lighting panels by adding additional circuits, more modules, and moving loads around. So much for putting out today's fire, too bad they aren't all that simple.



Beating the Heat
The temperature reached 115 today, but work goes on. Shutting down for the heat here would be like not working in the rain in Seattle, nothing would ever get done.

The electrician, Darryl Gregory of Canyon Creek Electric, asked that we have the meeting outside because it was hard to go back out into the heat. I opted for the job trailer. The work is progressing quickly, and we are seeing walls going up and the home taking shape.

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