Arc fault detection system

An arc fault detection system comprising:

• a high frequency detector module structured to receive power from a power source and to detect first spectral content of the power having a frequency in a first frequency range;
• a number of arc fault circuit interrupters each structured to receive power from the power source and having:
• separable contacts structured to trip open to stop power from flowing from the power source to a corresponding load;
• a low frequency detector module structured to detect second spectral content of the power having a frequency in a second frequency range;
• and
• a control unit structured to control the separable contacts to trip open;
• an arc fault detection unit structured to detect an arc fault at a selected one of the number of arc fault circuit interrupters based on the detected first spectral content from the selected arc fault circuit interrupter and the second spectral content, wherein the arc fault detection unit is structured to output an instruction to trip to the selected arc fault circuit interrupter in response to detecting the arc fault at the selected arc fault circuit interrupter;
• and
• a communication bus structured to provide communication between the arc fault detection unit and the number of arc fault circuit interrupters,
• wherein the first frequency range includes frequencies that are higher than frequencies in the second frequency range, and
• wherein the instruction to trip causes the control unit of the selected arc fault circuit interrupter to trip open the separable contacts.