Does the AFCI outlet require a neutral wire to work? June 11, 2021 16:52 Updated Follow Yes, all outlets require a neutral wire to work. Related articles Can the same neutral wire be used for the installation of more than one AFCI outlet? Can an AFCI outlet and a GFCI outlet be used on the same circuit? How do I know where the first outlet in the branch circuit is? Does every outlet in my home have to be an AFCI? How to Install GFCI, AFCI, GFCI/AFCI Outlets