It will be interesting to see a response from GE on whether their new AFCI (w/no CT) can be listed as a Slash Rated breaker. I personally see no reason to specify two single poles with a handle tie, but we all know there are times when you have a need for a two-pole source and you only have two single pole CB's that happen to be slash rated, so you can utilize this approach. Good article!

This is great --but when is the price coming down ??????

I guess I am still in the dark. If you need to trip both poles anyway, what is the advantage of two single-pole AFCI breakers joined with a handle tie over a two-pole AFCI breaker?

Are all brands interchangeable with GE? What are the pros and cons of using shared neutrals with this method?

Thank the lord they finally came up with a solution to this problem! Thank you Mike for the great info as usual.

Mike,

So why is the handle tie necessary? I must be missing something. Aren't two independent single pole circuits with a shared neutral a possibility?