What type of protection does an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) provide?

An arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) provides protection specifically against arc faults, which are unintended electrical discharges that occur when a current flows through an unintentional path. These arcs can generate high temperatures and, if left unchecked, have the potential to ignite surrounding material, leading to electrical fires. The AFCI is designed to detect these faults by monitoring the characteristics of the electrical current flowing through the circuit and will trip to interrupt the circuit when an arc is detected.

The other options related to overloading circuits, ground faults, and short circuits describe different types of electrical hazards. Overloading circuits involves exceeding the circuit's capacity, which can lead to hot wires and potential fire hazards but is addressed through other devices such as circuit breakers. Ground faults happen when there is an unintended path between a power source and the ground, typically addressed by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Short circuits occur when there is a direct path of low resistance between two points in an electrical system, and these too are safeguarded by traditional circuit breakers. However, AFCIs focus solely on detecting and protecting against specific arc faults, highlighting their unique function within electrical safety systems.