In electric “arc” is a discharge of current that occurs when the current passes through normally non conductive media such as air. Small arcs can occur through normal use of plugs and switches, however an high-power discharge, also known as an arc-fault, produce heat which can cause an electrical fire. In fact, arc-faults are one of the leading causes of electrical wiring fires!
An AFCI or Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter is designed to monitor the electrical current to detect undesirable arcs and disconnect power in order to prevent fires.
