At　present,　the　detection　methods　on　series　arc　faults　are　mainly　based　on　the　current　of　the　main　circuit,　which　probably　results　in　misjudgment　because　of　the　singularity　of　the　normal　working　current　in　a　nonlinear　load.　What＇s　worse,　is　the　arc　fault　characteristic　in　the　small　power　branch　is　easily　ignored　in　the　current　of　the　main　circuit,　which　leads　to　missed　judgment.　To　solve　these　problems,　a　detection　method　based　on　coupling　signal　acquisition　and　higher-order　cumulant　identification　is　presented,　through　the　electromagnetic　coupling　mechanism　of　high　frequency　current.　By　analyzing　the　coupling　signal　of　the　high-frequency　current　and　using　the　higher-order　cumulant　algorithm　during　arcing　process,　the　kurtosis　of　the　coupling　signal　is　calculated.　In　this　paper,　the　unified　threshold　value　on　the　kurtosis　in　various　conditions　is　obtained.　The　results　show　that　the　novel　method　can　be　effectively　used　to　detect　and　identify　the　series　arc　faults.　©　2013　IEEE.