Which device provides protection against both ground faults and arc faults?

• A. Single-pole breaker
• B. Double-pole breaker
• C. GFCI
• D. Dual-function breaker

Answer: (D)

Protecting people and their surroundings involves catching two different dangerous faults: ground faults that can cause electric shock, and arcing faults that can start fires. A GFCI watches for an imbalance between the current in the hot and neutral and trips if there’s leakage, which prevents shock but doesn’t guard against arcing. An AFCI looks for the distinctive patterns of an arc and trips to prevent fires, but it doesn’t specifically guard against ground faults. A dual-function breaker combines both protections in one device, so it will trip for either a ground fault or an arc fault. That makes it the best choice when you need protection against both hazards.