A method for detecting arc faults in an AC circuit, comprising: (a) measuring an AC voltage signal to obtain one cycle of the AC voltage signal; (b) obtaining a left-hand energy summation value and a right-hand energy summation value from the measured AC voltage signal, wherein the left-hand energy summation value is determined by summing left-hand energy values left of a zero-crossing and the right-hand energy summation value is determined by summing right-hand energy values right of the zero-crossing; (c) obtaining a differential left-hand energy summation value and a differential right-hand energy summation value , wherein the differential left-hand energy summation value and differential right-hand energy summation value respectively indicate changes in the left-hand energy summation value and the right-hand energy summation value; (d) obtaining a total energy summation value for use in generating stable arc boundaries, wherein the total energy summation value is a sum of the left-hand energy summation value and the right-hand energy summation value; (e) determining whether both the differential left-hand energy summation value and the differential right-hand energy summation value are simultaneously inside their respective transient arc boundaries, wherein if both the differential left-hand energy summation value and the differential right-hand energy summation value are simultaneously inside their respective transient arc boundaries, then setting a potential arc flag; (f) determining whether both the left-hand energy summation value and the right-hand energy summation value are simultaneously inside stable arc boundaries, wherein if both the left-hand energy summation value and the right-hand energy summation value are simultaneously inside the stable arc boundaries, then setting a potential arc flag ; (g) detecting an arc fault if a predetermined number of consecutive potential arc flags are set; and (h) repeating steps (a) through (g) a plurality of times to monitor for arc faults. (a) measuring an AC voltage signal to obtain one cycle of the AC voltage signal; (b) obtaining a left-hand energy summation value and a right-hand energy summation value from the measured AC voltage signal, wherein the left-hand energy summation value is determined by summing left-hand energy values left of a zero-crossing and the right-hand energy summation value is determined by summing right-hand energy values right of the zero-crossing; (c) obtaining a differential left-hand energy summation value and a differential right-hand energy summation value , wherein the differential left-hand energy summation value and differential right-hand energy summation value respectively indicate changes in the left-hand energy summation value and the right-hand energy summation value; (d) obtaining a total energy summation value for use in generating stable arc boundaries, wherein the total energy summation value is a sum of the left-hand energy summation value and the right-hand energy summation value; (e) determining whether both the differential left-hand energy summation value and the differential right-hand energy summation value are simultaneously inside their respective transient arc boundaries, wherein if both the differential left-hand energy summation value and the differential right-hand energy summation value are simultaneously inside their respective transient arc boundaries, then setting a potential arc flag; (f) determining whether both the left-hand energy summation value and the right-hand energy summation value are simultaneously inside stable arc boundaries, wherein if both the left-hand energy summation value and the right-hand energy summation value are simultaneously inside the stable arc boundaries, then setting a potential arc flag ; (g) detecting an arc fault if a predetermined number of consecutive potential arc flags are set; and (h) repeating steps (a) through (g) a plurality of times to monitor for arc faults. <EOS>