Scribd
Upload
5 views

Short-Circuit Switching Capacity

Short-Circuit Switching Capacity Definition

Uploaded by

chirag2011
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5 views

Short-Circuit Switching Capacity

Short-Circuit Switching Capacity Definition

Uploaded by

chirag2011
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

electrical-engineering-portal.com http://electrical-engineering-portal.

com/short-circuit-switching-capacity-definition

Short-Circuit Switching Capacity Definition


Edvard

Short-circuit Switching Capacity Definition (photo by M. Diskovic)

What is the switching capacity?


The switching capacity is the r.m.s value of a current at a given power factor cosφ as well as a given rated
voltage at which a switchgear or a fuse can still shut-off under specified conditions in an operationally safe way.

Both the short-circuit making capacity as well as the short-circuit breaking capacity of circuit breakers must be
larger than or equal to the prospective short-circuit current at the place of installation.

If this is not the case, then a suitable backup protection (for example a fuse) should be provided to ensure the
required switching capacity of the device combination.

Data regarding devices for backup protection are given in the technical documentation.

Rated short-circuit making capacity Icm

The rated short-circuit making capacity Icm is a quantity that according to regulations must be in a certain ratio
to the rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity Icu and that has to be guaranteed by the device manufacturer.

This is not a variable that must be considered by the user, however it ensures that a circuit breaker is in the
position to connect onto a short-circuit and to disconnect it subsequently.
Rated short-circuit breaking capacity Icu and Ics

IEC 60947-2 makes distinction between the rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity Icu and the rated
service short-circuit breaking capacity Ics :

- Rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity Icu

Icu is the maximum breaking capacity of a circuit breaker at an associated rated operational voltage and under
specified conditions. Icu is expressed in kA and must be at least as large as the prospective short-circuit current at
the site of installation.

Circuit breakers that have switched-off at the level of the ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity, are reduced
serviceable afterwards and should at least be checked regarding functionality. There may be changes in the
overload trip characteristic and increased temperature rise due to the erosion of contact material.

- Rated service short-circuit interrupting capacity Ics

Ics values are usually lower than the values for Icu. Circuit breakers that have been switching-off at the level of the
service short-circuit breaking capacity continue to be serviceable afterward.

In plants in which interruptions to operations must be kept as short as possible , product selection should be
carried-out based on Ics.

- Breaking capacity of fuses

The same applies to fuses as to circuit breakers with respect to the I cu: at the given rated operational
voltage, the rated breaking capacity must be at least as large as the prospective short-circuit current at the site of
installation.

Resource: Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear – Allen-Bradley

Source:
http://electrical-engineering-portal.com/short-circuit-switching-
capacity-definition

You might also like