Arc　faults　are　a　major　cause　of　electrical　fires.　Due　to　the　diversity　of　load　types,　existing　arc　fault　detection　(AFD)　methods　struggle　to　cover　all　load　types,　making　the　development　of　a　universal　detection　method　a　significant　challenge.　This　paper　presents　a　specially　designed　dual-winding　sensor　which　can　realize　self-couple　on　the　secondary　side　to　address　the　issues　existed　for　self-couple　on　the　primary-side.　The　arc　fault　signal　characteristics　of　both　categories,　as　specified　in　IEC　62606　and　GB　14287.4,　are　collected　and　analyzed.　By　suppressing　the　low-frequency　signal　and　amplifying　the　high-frequency　signal　under　resonant　conditions,　a　universal　arc　fault　detection　device　is　designed　and　experimentally　validated.　The　device　is　unaffected　by　the　position　of　the　tested　wire.　Results　indicate　that　the　presented　method　demonstrates　strong　universality　and　reduces　the　likelihood　of　false　positives　when　detecting　arc　faults.　　©　1963-2012　IEEE.