A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an arcing fault on a power line carrying a load current. The apparatus monitors and analyzes the load current to obtain frequency components. The analyzed load current is then compared to frequency components of an arcing fault model spectrum to determine whether an arcing fault exists on the power line. If the difference between the analyzed load current and the model spectrum is less than a selected error value, then an arcing fault exists on the power line. Otherwise, no arcing fault exists and conditions are normal on the line.
