INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC
SCOPE
• Systematic Procedures for determining the
Specific Applications type and protective characteristics of low-
voltage circuit breakers applied for specific
purpose
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo – Low Voltage Power Circuit Breaker
Managing Director – Molded Case Circuit Breaker
GREENLIGHT POWER INC – Insulated Case Circuit Breaker

[email protected]

INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
Applications ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC

1. Service Entrance
2. Main Circuit Breakers Selection Consideration
3. Tie Circuit Breakers
4. Feeder and Branch Circuit breakers
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo
a) Cables
Managing Director
b) Busways
c) Switchgear, Switchboards, panelboards, or GREENLIGHT POWER INC
MCCs

[email protected]

Selection Consideration Selection Consideration

1. Compliance with nationally recognized 2. Special or unusual requirements
regulations imposed by characteristics of the
a) Philippine Electrical Code Part 1, 2000 electrical power source
b) Occupational Safety and Health
Administration 3. Special or unusual requirements
c) Underwriters Laboratories resulting from load characteristics
d) American National Standard 4. Interconnected system performance
e) Philippine National Standards objectives with respect to selective
f) IEC, etc clearing

1
 INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
Selection Consideration ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC

5. Unusual operating conditions

6. Special requirements for personnel Selection Approach
safety
7. Type of equipment in which the circuit
breaker is mounted By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo
a) Individual enclosure Managing Director
b) Panelboard
c) Switchboard
GREENLIGHT POWER INC
d) MCC

[email protected]

Selection Approach System Voltage

• This presentation covers the application of • Circuit breakers are rated by voltage class
standard-purpose low-voltage circuit and should be applied only to system
breakers in specific applications. voltages within their ratings
• System voltage is a determining factor of
the circuit breaker interrupting rating.
• Circuit Breakers with straight ratings and
all LVPCBs can be aplied on ungrounded
as well as grounded system

480Y/277 volts power system 120/240 V Power System

2
 System Grounding System Grounding
• Most breakers are rated for application on • High Resistance Grounded
low voltage systems that are solidly
grounded,

System Grounding System Grounding

• Ungrounded System • However some MCCBs have reduced
interrupting capability for a single pole as
indicated by the slash in voltage rating and
they can only be applied to solidly
grounded system

System Grounding System Grounding

• Solidly Grounded of more than 150 volts to • Ground fault trip element may also be
ground are required to have an integral used in High Resistance Grounded and
ground fault protection. Ungrounded systems if required for
• Ground fault tripping is required for certain special application
application as required by Philippine • However, first ground fault may be allowed
Electrical Code for Service Entrance and without tripping for system reliability on
feeder application 2.30.95, 2.15.10 and ungrounded or High Resistance Grounded
2.40.13 system

3
 System Frequency System Frequency
• Application on systems other than 60 Hz • Above 120 Hz will result in increased in
should be checked with the manufacturer eddy currents and iron losses which cause
• Systems rated 50 Hz may require special greater heating within the thermal trip
calibration of the trip device elements
• Thermal magnetic trip device that are – Circuit breaker should either be calibrated or
re-rated accordingly or both
directly heated can be generally be
– Amount of derating depends upon the frame
applied to power systems with frequency
size, current rating as well as system
up to 120Hz without derating frequency

Continuous Load Current Continuous Load Current

• Continuous load current of a circuit • Thermal Magnetic Trip
determines the minimum conductor size. – May be non-interchangeable
• Trip rating or setting of the circuit breaker – Trip units are available up to the frame sizes
should be selected to protect the load of the circuit breaker
and/or conductor. – Circuit breaker rating is the overload trip
rating

Continuous Load Current Continuous Load Current

• Interchangeable Thermal-magnetic trip • Electronic Trip Units
– Available in many current ratings up to the – Available on MCCB, ICCBs and LVPCBs
frame size of the circuit breaker – Use current sensors with various ratings
– Trip units may be changed in the field equal to or less than the frame size of the
– Overload trip ratings of the circuit breaker circuit breaker
depends o the trip unit installed – Rating plugs may be used to increase the
range of the settings
– Sensor rating, plug rating, and current setting
selected from the adjustment rage determine
trip rating of the circuit breaker

4
 Ambient Temperature and
Continuous Load Current
Altitude
• 100% rated circuit breakers • Derating of the circuit breaker’s continuous
– Load current should not exceed the current current at higher ambient
continuous-current rating or setting temperatures, humidity or altitudes and
– LVPCBs, MCCBs and MCCBs rated at 100% rated conditions should be checked.
• 80% rated circuit breakers
– May be applied at only 80% of circuit breaker
rating for non interchangeable trip type
– 80% of the trip unit rating for interchangeable
trip type or trip setting of adjustable trip type

Harmonics Available Short Circuit Current

• Trip devices should be true rms sensing • Interrupting Rating
that corresponds to the effective heating – Highest current at rated system voltage that a
value of the current circuit breaker is intended to interrupt under
standard test condition
• Equipment intended to interrupt current at other
than fault levels may have its interrupting rating
implied in other ratings, such as horsepower or
locked rotor current
– PEC Art. 1.0 Definition (NEC 100-9
Definition)

Available Short Circuit Current Available Short Circuit Current

• A symmetrical interrupting rating of the • Interrupting rating of the circuit breaker
circuit breaker shall exceed the calculated shall be specific for the voltage at which it
available short-circuit current at the point is applied
of application • Consult manufacturer for ratngs of specific
• Short Circuit Contributor circuit breakers, some are available with
– Utility Sources interrupting ratings higher than the
– Generators minimum rating required by ANSI 37.16-
– Connected Motors 1998

5
 Available Short Circuit Current Available Short Circuit Current
• Short circuit study is required to determine • Interrupting rating is the same as the
the magnitude of three-phase and single- short-time rating if LVPCBs are applied
phase short circuit at various point in the without the instantaneous trip element.
system • Consult manufacturer for ratings
• LVPCB without instantaneous trip element • LVPCBs may be applied without integral
may be used for Selective coordination trip units using separate overcurrent relays
over the entire short circuit current range and tripped using a shunt trip device
• Short time current is defined as a
maximum clearing time of 0.5 sec at rated
short circuit per ANSI C37.17.1979

Available Short Circuit Current Series-connected rating

• Molded case switch has only • Is a UL recognized interrupting rating for a
instantaneous element which is designed
to trip the breaker below its interrupting combination of line-side and load side
rating MCCBs
– This may cause coordination problem if an • Load side circuit breaker interrupting rating
attempt is made to use it like a non-automatic may be less than the rating of the
circuit breaker combination
• When high interrupting ratings and/or
current limiting capabilities are needed
Current limiting Circuit breaker or LVPCB
may be used.

Series-connected rating Series-connected rating

• NOTE
– Equipment containing MCCBs such as
switchboards, panelboards and residential
service entrance equipment must be TESTED
and assigned a UL short-circuit rating when
based on the rating of the series combinations
of circuit breakers used

6
 Series-connected rating Series-connected rating
• Protective device series ratings are not • Equipment are required to have rating
limited to devices located in the same labels that show short-circuit ratings when
enclosure such as panelboard main and protected by series-connected rated line
branch circuit breakers, they may be side devices
located in different equipment • Load-side circuit breaker of a series
– Residential metering distribution panelboard combination must be located in an
circuit breaker equipment that is LISTED AND MARKED
– Load side residential load center for use with series-connected ratings that
– Line side switchboard include that circuit breaker
– Load side panelboard

Factors to Consider for Series

Series-connected rating
Combination
• Series-combination should not use • Main disadvantage is loss of selective
different manufacturers circuit breakers, coordination at high fault currents
even though the manufacturers have – Fully rated system might be arranged to avoid
tripping the main circuit breaker for a feeder
similar designs, because no testing has short circuit
been done to verify a series connected – Series combination requires that both the
rating feeder and the main circuit breaker to trip
• Main advantage of series rating is the cost when available current is above
instantaneous trip of the line side circuit
savings realized by using load-side circuit breaker
breakers whose interrupting ratings is less
than the available short circuit current.

Factors to Consider for Series Factors to Consider for Series

Combination Combination
• Series ratings require certain • Series ratings cannot be applied if
consideration in their application that have MOTORS or other equipment that
to be handled by a power system engineer contributes to a short-circuit current are
– Line side circuit breaker or other device opens connected between the line-side MCCB
to protect the underrated load-side circuit and the load-side MCCB
breaker when the short circuit current
exceeds the load-side circuit breaker
interrupting rating but is equal to or less than
the line side device rating

7
 Factors to Consider for Series
Series-Connected Rated Device
Combination
• When increase in available short circuit
current necessitates a system upgrade a
second approach may be to use a current
limiting circuit breaker or fuse
– This will limit peak current and let-through
energy.

Factors to Consider for Series Factors to Consider for Series

Combination Combination
• To accomplish selectivity the circuit • Lowest first cost prime consideration
breaker shall have adjustable trip devices • Secondary consideration
set to operate on the minimum level of – Continuity of service
short circuit current to permit them to be – Lower Maintenance cost
selective while distinguishing between
short-circuit current and permissible load
– Fully rated equipment if selectivity and
current peaks reliability are important.
• Breaker should function in minimum time

Fully Rated Versus a Series Fully Rated Versus a Series

Rated System Rated System
• Fully Rated System
– Available short circuit current is less than or
equal to the short circuit rating of the lowest
rated component in the equipment

8
 Series Rated Arcing Ground Fault
• What is an arcing ground fault?
• Arcing line to ground short circuit current
is normally considerably lower than the
value of a three phase bolted fault
• Arcing ground fault is a short circuit that is
destructive in nature and must be removed
as quickly as possible

Arcing Ground Fault Arcing Ground Fault

• Unfortunately the magnitude of this current • Resulting higher ground-fault current is
may be so low that low voltage circuit more readily detected and removed in a
breaker long time delay characteristics shorter period of time.
allow it to persist too long. • Select a ground trip function for the
overcurrent protection.
• Solution is to for a ground conductor to be
included in a phase conductor to provide • Low range instantaneous trip
lower reactance ground path for arcing • Or if neutral is not used convert to high
currents resistance grounding using zigzag
x’former.

INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC
Shunt trip Device
• Used to electrically trip a circuit breaker,
manually or automatically through a
Modification and Accessories
contact or switch located remotely from
the breaker
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo • Must be energized by some ac or dc
control power source
Managing Director
• Can also be used for tripping from a
GREENLIGHT POWER INC separate protective relay or for local or
remote control.

[email protected]

9
 Shunt trip Device Undervoltage release
• When used for tripping from a protective • Trips the circuit breaker whenever the
device voltage being monitored falls below
– Reliable power source should be utilized predetermined level
– Short time circuit rating of the circuit breaker • Available with time dealy or instantaneous
shall exceed the available short circuit current operation
at the point of application

Types of Undervoltage release Types of Undervoltage release

• Electromechanical Automatic reset • Handle reset
– Used in combination with undervoltage – Cocked or precharged through the circuit
release breaker handle mechanism
– When voltage falls below a predetermined – Major advantage is circuit breaker mechanism
level a solenoid mechanism will initiate cannot be latched when there is no power on
tripping of the circuit breaker the undervoltage release coil
– Circuit breaker cannot be closed until the – Prevents circuit breaker mechanism damage
voltage returns to approximately 85% of due to repeated attempts to close the circuit
normal breaker with a de-energized undervoltage
release coil

Types of Undervoltage release Types of Undervoltage release

• NOTE • Used during system undervoltage
– Design considerations for the use of both conditions in application such as motor
types of undevoltage release as indicated is protection for cases where a magnetic
that they don not depend on control power to contactor is not available to drop out or
trip the circuit breaker when sequence restart is desired as
opposed to full start-up of all devices and
loads when power is restored

10
 Auxilliary Switch Mechanism Operated Cell
• Consists of normally open or normally • Used with drawout circuit breaker
closed contact mounted in the circuit • Similar to auxiliary switches except that
breaker that change state whenever the they are mounted within the cubicle and
circuit breaker is open and closed are operated mechanically by the circuit
• Used with indicating devices to show breaker mechanism.
position of the breaker • They are used when more auxiliary
• Used in the control circuit for interlocking contacts are required.
purposes

Truck operated cell switches Alarm Switches

• Used with drawout circuit breaker • Bell alarm contact
• Change state when the circuit breaker is • Function only when circuit breaker trips
moved between the connected postion not with manual opening of the circuit
and the test position breaker.
• May be used with an indicating device to • Contacts changes state only when circuit
show the position of the circuit breaker breaker trips due to an overload, short
• Used in control circuit to prevent operation circuit or ground fault.
of the circuit breaker in one of its postion.

Alarm Switches Motor Operators MCCB

• Contacts remain in this change state until • Moves circuit breaker to open and close
reset by a push button on the circuit position through a motor mechanism
breaker • Allows remote control of circuit breaker
• Also available with remote resetting • Slow and may not be fast enough for
mechanism synchronizing application
• Alarm switch may be used with an
indicating device to show that the circuit
breaker has tripped due to operation of the
trip device

11
 Electrical Close Mechanism Mechanical Interlocks
• Consist of stored energy closing • Walking beam
mechanism, spring charging motor and • Sliding Bar
solenoid release • Key Interlock
• With anti-pump circuitry to prevent cycling • Results in the interlocking of two breakers
• When the closing circuit (ready to close so that only one may be closed at the
contact) is energized, the spring is same time yet both may be open
charged or cranked simultaneously

Moisture, Fungus & Corrosion

Terminal Shield
Treatment
• Special tropical treatment should be • Protects personnel from accidental contact
specifed for the circuit breakers with energized current carrying parts
Note
Circuit breakers should not be exposed to
corrosive environments. If there is no
alternative specially treated circuit
breakers that are resistant to corrosive
environments should be specified

Handle locks Handle Ties

• Available to prevent accidental or • Handle ties are used to connect two or
deliberate manual operation of the circuit more circuit breaker handles together to
breaker enable manual operation of all poles
• He lock does not prevent opening of the simultaneously
circuit breaker by its trip device (trip free) • Does not prevent opening of the circuit
breaker by its trip device

12
 INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
Shutters ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC

• Used to provide isolation from the primary

contacts when the circuit breaker is Normal and Abnormal Conditions
withdrawn
• Applied only to draw-out circuit breakers
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo
Managing Director
GREENLIGHT POWER INC

[email protected]

Normal Environmental & Abnormal Environmental &

Operating Conditions Operating Conditions
• Ambient temperature between 00C and • Operation at ambient temp below 00C or
400C above 400C
• Altitude does not exceed 2000 meter • Operation at altitudes above 2000 meters
• Seismic Zone 0 • Exposure to corrosive materials
• Frequency of 60 Hz • Exposure to explosive fumes or dust
• Exposure to dust or moisture
• Seismic zone 1,2,3, and 4

Abnormal Environmental & Abnormal Environmental &

Operating Conditions Operating Conditions
• Abnormal vibrations • Frequent switching
• Unusual operating duties • Circuits with high X/R ratios
• Harmonics • Single-pole interruption with three pole
• Repetitive duty cycle, which result in circuit breakers
several operations in a short period of time • Frequencies other than 60 Hz
on a regular basis • Occurrence of frequent and/or severe
• Capacitor Bank Switching faults

13
 INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC

Considerations for Applying

MCCB, ICCB and LVPCBs

By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo

Managing Director
GREENLIGHT POWER INC

[email protected]

INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC

Service Requirements and

Protection

By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo

Managing Director
GREENLIGHT POWER INC.

[email protected]

INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
PEC Article 2.30.7 to 2.30.8 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC

• Contains requirement for services of 600 V

or less including sizing, location and Main Circuit Breakers
overcurrent protection of conductors,
disconnecting means, permissible number
of disconnects, rating of disconnects, By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo
grounding of conductors, and ground fault Managing Director
protection requirement of service
GREENLIGHT POWER INC
equipment

[email protected]

14
 Main Circuit Breaker
• Switching
• Servicing
• Protection of Main Bus of an assembly of
Low Voltage Equipment
– Line up of switchgear
– Switchboard
– Panelboard
– MCC

Main Circuit Breaker Disconnecting Means

• May be separately located from the • Opening of CB isolates the load from the
distribution assembly power source
• May be the service disconnecting means • Used to deenergized the system and very
when part of the service entrance useful when it is necessary to quickly turn
• Transformer secondary main circuit off the power such as when a fire occurs in
breaker if located in the secondary of a the facility
stepdown transformer • Mandatory in service entrance application
• Not always mandatory of more than six feeders or branches

Disconnecting Means Main Protection Device

• Useful during maintenance of equipment • Overload Protection
to safely lockout/tagout everything • Short Circuit Protection
downstream during inspection and • Ground Fault
maintenance of main bus and connections
• Useful for reenergizing the system in an
orderly fashion

15
 Main Overload Protection Main Overload Protection
• Protection for the main bus of the • Provides overload protection for the
distribution equipment transformer if applied at the transformer
• Protection for the incoming power secondary
conductors to the circuit breaker – Primary device has higher current rating or
setting to prevent the device from tripping on
transformer inrush current during transformer
energization

Main Short Circuit Protection Main Ground-fault Protection

• Provides short circuit protection for the • Optional protection is very desirable for
conductors or bus between main circuit the main circuit breaker on solidly
breaker and branch or feeder circuit grounded system of more than 150 V to
breakers ground
• Possibility of Arcing ground fault and
ground fault also
• Article 2.30.9.5 and 2.40.24

General Application General Application

Consideration Consideration
• Preferred trip function for selective trip are • May require key interlocking with high-
– Long time voltage switch on the transformer primary
– Short time • May require key or electrical interlock with
– Ground fault a tie circuit breaker or transfer switch.
– Instantaneous should be provided only if
necessitated by the circuit breaker interrupting
rating

16
 INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC
Tie Circuit Breaker
• Used for sectionalizing or isolating a
Tie Circuit Breaker section of bus
• Allow for maintenance of the main circuit
breaker or transformer
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo • Used for switching, Servicing & Protecting
Managing Director – Assembly of low-voltage equipment
GREENLIGHT POWER INC – Line-up of switchgears, switchboard or
panelboard or MCC

[email protected]

Tie Circuit Breaker Tie Break Disconnecting

• Not mandatory but advantages it provides • Opening the tie circuit breaker along with
should be considered one of the main circuit breakers isolates
• Integral part of the assembly most of the the bus section from the power source
time but can be separately located from • Used to deenergize the portion of the
the distribution assembly system and is very useful when it is
necessary to quickly turn off the power

Tie Break Disconnecting Protection Device

• Opening one main circuit breaker and • Overload protection
closing the tie circuit breaker enables the • Short Circuit Protection
system to remain energized while the main • Ground Fault
circuit breaker or transformer is being
maintained • General application consideration
• Useful for lockout tagout everything
downstream
• Useful for reenergizing in a timely fashion

17
 Tie Break Overload Tie Break Short Circuit
• Provides overload protection for a portion • Provides short circuit protection for the
of the main bus of the distribution conductors between the tie and the branch
equipment feeder on the portion of the bus
• Back up for the other main circuit breaker • Back up for the main circuit breaker

General Application
Tie Break Ground Fault
Consideration
• Optional protection for solidly grounded • Selective trip functions are long-time and
systems of more than 150 volts to ground short-time and ground fault if required for
for arcing ground fault coordination
• May be selected to provide ground fault • Instantaneous should be provided only if
coordination with the main and feeder necessitated by the circuit breaker
circuit breaker interrupting rating

General Application INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
Consideration OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC

• Require key or electrical interlocking with

main breakers to prevent paralleling or Feeder Protection
synchronism check equipment to monitor
paralleling
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo
Managing Director
GREENLIGHT POWER INC

[email protected]

18
 Feeder Protection Feeder Protection
• Disconnecting means for various types of • Overload protection of Cables
loads – Conductor shall be protected in accordance
• Contains protective device with trip with their ampacity of table 3.10.15
functions • No specific PEC rules are presented to
coordinate insulation heating
characteristics with the overcurrent device
concerning temperature versus time

Feeder Protection Short Circuit Feeder Protection

• Overload protection cannot be applied • Cable conductors must be protected
until the ampacity of a cable is determined from overheating due to excessive short-
• Normal ampacities under the jurisdiction of circuit current .
the PEC are tabulated in its current 2000
edition including derating under various
conditions per table 3.10.15

Short Circuit Feeder Protection Short Circuit Feeder Protection

• Cable protection involves obtaining the ff • Cable protection involves obtaining the ff
information: information:
1. Maximum available short circuit currents 5. Longest time that the short circuit will exist
2. Maximum operating temperature of the and the short circuit current will flow
insulation 6. Cable short-circuit current damage curve
3. Maximum conductor temperature that will
not damage the insulation
4. Cable conductor size and material affecting
I2R value and the capability to contain heat

19
 Feeder Ground Fault Protection Feeder Ground Fault Protection
• Phase-to-ground short circuits are more • Ground fault protection should be selected
likely to occur than other types of short to provide coordination with main and tie
circuits breaker
• Solidly grounded systems of more than • Alternative is to convert to High
150 V to ground requires integral ground Resistance Grounded system
fault trip devices available in Circuit • Article 2.15.10 may require ground fault on
breakers feeder for 1000 A and above

20
 Typical Busway Protective
Protection of Busway
Device
• Similar protection as the cable • Oveload, Short Circuit and Ground Fault
• Types of Busway Protection.
– Feeder • Short circuit rating of busway should be
– Plug-in Busway selected as high as possible in order to
achieve selectivity

Protection of Switchgear Bus

• Switchgear bus is a component of a
prefabricated switchgear assembly
manufactured according to standards
• Short time current is limit of available
current flow at maximum voltage under
the prescribe test condition
• These ratings determine that the
switchgear bus will not be damaged by
current flowing while circuit breaker are
interrupting.

Protection of Switchgear Bus Protection of Switchgboard Bus

• Ground fault protection for solidly • Switchboard bus is also a component of
grounded of more than 150 V to ground for prefabricated switchboard assembly
arcing phase to ground short circuits manufactured according to standards UL
and NEMA PB 2-1995
• Same as protection of switchgears

21
 Protection of Motor Feeders Protection of Motor Feeders
• PEC Article 4.30 governs selection of the • Article 4.30
current-carrying capacity of conductors – Requires the continous current rating of the
used for motor applications circuit breaker to be no less than 115% of
FLA
• Overload, short circuit and ground fault – Inverse time circuit breaker should not exceed
protection applied in accordance with Art. 250% of motor full load amperes
2.40 and 4.30. • Exception of 300% for over 100A and 400% for
under 100A if necessary for starting
– It is necessary to use the lowest value of
continuous current rating which will ensure
nuisance-free starting with its max
instantaneous trip

Protection of Motors
• Selection consideration
– Motor and branch circuit overcurrent
protection
– Motor and branch circuit short circuit
protection

22
 Feeder and Branch Circuit
Potential Application Limitations
Protection
• Frequent starting duty
• Extended starting times
• Ground fault coordination
– Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
– High Resistance Grounding

Protection of Generators Application Consideration

• PEC 4.45.4 and Chapter 11 of IEEE Std • Isolated or parallel operation
242-1986 Protection of Generators • Short circuit Duty
• Overload and extended Short-circuit
capability
• Generator Ratings
• Type of grounding

23
 Generator Classifications Single Isolated Generators
• Single isolated generators • Do not operate in parallel with the utility
• Multiple isolated generators source
• Large industrial low voltage generators • Used for emergency or standby power
• Mechanical interlock are provided to
prevent paralleling
• For automatic starting and shutdown will
require electric close< shunt trips and
auxiliary contacts

Single Isolated Generators Multiple Isolated Generators

• Do not operate in parallel with the utility • May operate with each other in parrallel
source but not with utility source
• Used for emergency or standby power • Will involve synchronizing circuits which
• Mechanical interlock are provided to require a quick closing electrically
prevent paralleling operated circuit breaker
• For automatic starting and shutdown will • May necessitate shunt trips and auxiliary
require electric close< shunt trips and contacts
auxiliary contacts

Large Industrial low-voltage

Multiple Isolated Generators
Generators
• Operate in parallel with utility source
• Will require quick-closing electrically
operated breakers with shunt trips and
auxiliary contacts

24
 Large Industrial low-voltage
Overcurrent Protection
Generators
• Long-time for protection against prolonged
low-level overload conditions
• Short-time for selectivity with feeder
breakers to protect against bus faults and
system faults not cleared by feeder
breakers

Overcurrent Protection Short Circuit Consideration

• Instantaneous to trip on faults in the • Short circuit of the generator circuit
generator or leads that are being fed from breaker should be equal to or greater than
elsewhere in the system if the generator is the short-circuit current available to it from
parallel with the utility system the system
• Ground fault protection required in solidly • Time current characteristic of protective
grounded system device must be below generators short
circuit decrement curve

Additional Protection
Protection of Capacitors
Consideration
• Electronic trip device on circuit breakers is • Article 4.60.8 overcurrent protection for
sufficient for small generators capacitor
• Larger and most costly generators may • Circuit breaker should have voltage rating
require additional protection suitable for the rated voltage of the
capacitor system
• Must have interrupting rating greater than
the fault current available at its line-side
terminals

25
 Application Consideration Conductor and Protective Device
• Transient inrush current for isolated bank • 135% of rated current of the capacitor
or parallel bank switching configurations Art.4.60.8 PEC Part !, 2000
• Transient overvoltages generated during • Why 135%
opening operations by restrikes – 15% tolerance of manufacturer
• Protective device characteristics – Current varies with the line voltage
• Frequent switching requirements – Harmonics
• High Frequency inrush currents – Switching transients

• Continuous-current requirements

Transformer Protection Conductor and Protective Device

• Low voltage circuit breakers can be used
for the transformer protection Article
4.50.3.

Transformer Protection Application Consideration

• PEC Article 4.50.3 Transformer protection • Will they clear the system for short circuits
using low voltage circuit breaker within the transformer?
– Specific primary and secondary protection • Will they prevent the transformer from
requirements for transformer 600 V nominal becoming overloaded beyond its ability?
and equal to or less than 600 V nominal
• Will they protect the transformer from
– Intended to protect the transformer only and
not the conductor or the load of the damage during a through-fault condition
transformer on the load side?

26
 Application Consideration Application Consideration
• Do they have adequate interrupting ratings • Is ground fault protection provided (if
for faults at their load side terminals? required)?
• Will they handle the transformer inrush
current without nuisance tripping?
• Can they tolerate the current transients
during inrush and during other operating
conditions?
• Do they provide conductor protection?

Transformer with Primary Rated Transformer with Primary Rated

more than 600 V more than 600 V
• Primary is over 600 V and secondary is • Primary is over 600 V and secondary is
600 V or less 600 V or less
– Low voltage circuit breakers might be used as – SUPERVISED LICENSED ELECTRICAL
the secondary transformer protection PRACTITIONER allows 250% of the
– NON SUPERVISED must not exceed 125% of transformer rated secondary current
transformer rated secondary current or next
higher standard rating Article 4.50.3(a)(1)

Transformer Primary &

Transformer Protection
Secondary Rated 600 V or Below
• Primary protection only
• Transformer with secondary protection
• Other consideration for transformer
protection

27
 Primary Protection Only Primary Protection Only
• May not necessarily provide conductor • Article 4.50.1.3(b)(1) if primary protection
protection. is to be used of 600 V or less, that
• Article 2.40.2.2(c)(1) protection shall be an individual
– Transformer secondary conductors if not two overcurrent device on the primary side,
wire or delta delta are NOT considered to be rated or set at not more than 125% of the
protected by the primary overcurrent rated primary current of the transfomer
protection

Primary Protection Only Primary Protection Only

• If primary current rating of the transformer
is less than 9 A, the exception s allows the
primary and secondary overcurrent device
to be rated up to but not more than 167%
of the transformer primary current rating
• If the primary current rating is less than 2A
overcurrent device may be rated to but not
more than 300% of the transformer
primary current rating

Transformer with Secondary Transformer with Secondary

Protection Protection
• The overcurrent device on the secondary
side is rated or set at not more than 125%
of the transformer secondary rating
• The primary feeder overcurrent device is
rated or set at not more than 250% of the
transformer primary current rating

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 Other consideration for
Transformer Protection
• Transformer damage curves
• Current inrush data
• Overload capabilities
• Transient from transformer manufacturers

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