October 16, 2013 – Promising always-on, full-time, simultaneous safety and reliability, GE’s ArcWatch circuit breaker communication technology is the industry’s first technology, says the company, to enable an electrical system design that helps to maximize selectivity or uptime while simultaneously providing continuous arc flash mitigation protection.

ArcWatch works through a combination of communication algorithms across the GE portfolio of circuit breakers by using instantaneous zone selective interlocking (I-ZSI) and waveform recognition (WFR) to ensure only the circuit breakers nearest to the fault trip, thereby limiting the incident energy in the event of an arc flash. Systems embedded with ArcWatch technology reduce the impact of an arc flash event to <8 cal/cm², resulting in lower requirements for PPE. The use of fire-resistant clothing instead of a full-protective arc flash suit makes it easier for electrical contractors to work with their hands, allowing for better functionality and safety. ArcWatch-enabled circuit breaker families from GE include EntelliGuard, Record Plus and Spectra RMS.