A branch arc fault detection system, comprising: an upstream circuit breaker unit arranged at an origin of a branch, the circuit breaker unit comprising a current sensor; and at least one downstream electrical outlet device (114, 116, 118) connected to the circuit breaker unit through branch wiring, the at least one electrical outlet device (114, 116, 118) comprising: a line conductor; a neutral conductor, wherein the line conductor and the neutral conductor are part of the branch wiring and are operable to provide electrical power to the at least one downstream electrical outlet device (114, 116, 118), which is operable to provide electrical power to a load if connected to the at least one electrical outlet device (114, 116, 118), a neutral shorting switching element (146A, 146B, 146C) coupled between the line conductor and the neutral conductor having an open position and a closed position, the closed position coupling the line conductor to the neutral conductor; a load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) in the line conductor, the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) having an open position and a closed position for controlling current through the line conductor, wherein the neutral shorting switching element (146A, 146B, 146C) is in the open position and the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) is in the closed position to provide power from the line conductor; and an outlet controller coupled to the switching elements (146A, 146B, 146C, 148A, 148B, 148C), the outlet controller configured to open the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C), wherein the circuit breaker unit is operable to measure current on the line conductor from the current sensor when the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) is open, and is further operable, based on the measured current, to detect a parallel arc fault between the line conductor and the neutral conductor. an upstream circuit breaker unit arranged at an origin of a branch, the circuit breaker unit comprising a current sensor; and at least one downstream electrical outlet device (114, 116, 118) connected to the circuit breaker unit through branch wiring, the at least one electrical outlet device (114, 116, 118) comprising: a line conductor; a neutral conductor, wherein the line conductor and the neutral conductor are part of the branch wiring and are operable to provide electrical power to the at least one downstream electrical outlet device (114, 116, 118), which is operable to provide electrical power to a load if connected to the at least one electrical outlet device (114, 116, 118), a neutral shorting switching element (146A, 146B, 146C) coupled between the line conductor and the neutral conductor having an open position and a closed position, the closed position coupling the line conductor to the neutral conductor; a load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) in the line conductor, the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) having an open position and a closed position for controlling current through the line conductor, wherein the neutral shorting switching element (146A, 146B, 146C) is in the open position and the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) is in the closed position to provide power from the line conductor; and an outlet controller coupled to the switching elements (146A, 146B, 146C, 148A, 148B, 148C), the outlet controller configured to open the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C), wherein the circuit breaker unit is operable to measure current on the line conductor from the current sensor when the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) is open, and is further operable, based on the measured current, to detect a parallel arc fault between the line conductor and the neutral conductor. a line conductor; a neutral conductor, wherein the line conductor and the neutral conductor are part of the branch wiring and are operable to provide electrical power to the at least one downstream electrical outlet device (114, 116, 118), which is operable to provide electrical power to a load if connected to the at least one electrical outlet device (114, 116, 118), a neutral shorting switching element (146A, 146B, 146C) coupled between the line conductor and the neutral conductor having an open position and a closed position, the closed position coupling the line conductor to the neutral conductor; a load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) in the line conductor, the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) having an open position and a closed position for controlling current through the line conductor, wherein the neutral shorting switching element (146A, 146B, 146C) is in the open position and the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) is in the closed position to provide power from the line conductor; and an outlet controller coupled to the switching elements (146A, 146B, 146C, 148A, 148B, 148C), the outlet controller configured to open the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C), wherein the circuit breaker unit is operable to measure current on the line conductor from the current sensor when the load control switching element (148A, 148B, 148C) is open, and is further operable, based on the measured current, to detect a parallel arc fault between the line conductor and the neutral conductor.