A direct current arc fault detector comprising: a number of alternating current sensors (252,254,256) structured to sense a current flowing through a conductor; a direct current sensor structured to sense the current flowing through said conductor; a number of filter circuits cooperating with said number of alternating current sensors to output a number of alternating current signals; a number of peak detectors cooperating with said number of filter circuits to output a number of peak current signals; wherein the number of filter circuits and the number of peak detectors signals are related to different frequencies; an output; and a processor cooperating with at least said number of peak detectors and said output, said processor being structured to (a) input the number of peak current signals as a plurality of peak current signals or (b) input the number of peak current signals and determine the plurality of peak current signals, said processor also being structured (156,160,162) to determine if the plurality of peak current signals exceed corresponding predetermined thresholds for a predetermined time, and responsively activate said output, wherein said processor is further structured to input a sensed direct current signal from said direct current sensor, and disable the number of filter circuits if a rate of change of the sensed direct current signal is greater than a first predetermined threshold or enable the number of filter circuits if the rate of change is less than a different second predetermined threshold, which is less than the first predetermined threshold, and wherein said processor is further structured to detect a level shift in the sensed current employing said direct current sensor. a number of alternating current sensors (252,254,256) structured to sense a current flowing through a conductor; a direct current sensor structured to sense the current flowing through said conductor; a number of filter circuits cooperating with said number of alternating current sensors to output a number of alternating current signals; a number of peak detectors cooperating with said number of filter circuits to output a number of peak current signals; wherein the number of filter circuits and the number of peak detectors signals are related to different frequencies; an output; and a processor cooperating with at least said number of peak detectors and said output, said processor being structured to (a) input the number of peak current signals as a plurality of peak current signals or (b) input the number of peak current signals and determine the plurality of peak current signals, said processor also being structured (156,160,162) to determine if the plurality of peak current signals exceed corresponding predetermined thresholds for a predetermined time, and responsively activate said output, wherein said processor is further structured to input a sensed direct current signal from said direct current sensor, and disable the number of filter circuits if a rate of change of the sensed direct current signal is greater than a first predetermined threshold or enable the number of filter circuits if the rate of change is less than a different second predetermined threshold, which is less than the first predetermined threshold, and wherein said processor is further structured to detect a level shift in the sensed current employing said direct current sensor.