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Short-circuit current rating (SCCR)

Short-circuit current rating (SCCR) is the maximum short-circuit current a component or assembly can safely withstand when protected by a specific overcurrent protective device(s) or for a specified time. Short-circuit current ratings provide the level of fault current that a component or a piece of equipment can safely withstand (based on a fire and shock hazard external to the enclosure).

Calculation of short-circuit withstand current rating for low voltage switchgear
Calculation of short-circuit withstand current rating for low voltage switchgear (photo credit: elcon Elektrotechnik Consult GmbH)

Without knowing the available fault current and short-circuit current rating, it is impossible to determine if components or equipment can be safely installed.

Individual panel components have an SCCR or interrupting rating. The component with the lowest SCCR in the panel limits the overall panel assembly rating. This SCCR rating has to be displayed on the nameplate and is usually calculated by the manufacturer or assembler of the control panel.

The short-circuit current magnitude is determined either by computation or by measurement. For new applications, the measurement cannot be done before preparation of the switchgear, nor is it always possible to relay on measurement of older installations.

The manufacturer often does not know the switchgears future operating conditions (feeding transformer, type and length of cable network, change of conductor resistance caused by the temperature change, additional power to the grid, caused by motors, etc.)

It is the responsibility of the consulting or electrical design engineer to verify that all industrial control panels are applied in a manner such that the panel’s SCCR is greater than the system’s available fault current.

It is the responsibility of the industrial control panel manufacturer to provide accurate SCCR information to the consulting engineer and authority having jurisdiction through required labels and published technical information.

Path of the short-circuit current from the transformer to the short-circuit
Path of the short-circuit current from the transformer to the short-circuit

Determining the rated short-time withstand current (Icw) of a circuit of an assembly

The original manufacturer of the switchgear system, is responsible for the verification of the short circuit withstand capacity of the system components, e.g. the Icw value of the busbars.

Rated short-circuit withstand current is determined by the values Ik“, Icw, Icp, Icu. A verification of the short-circuit withstand strength is not required for the following:

  1. Assemblies having a rated short-time withstand current or rated conditional short-circuit current not exceeding 10 kA r.m.s.
  2. Assemblies protected by current-limiting devices having a cut-off current not exceeding 17 kA at the maximum allowable prospective short-circuit current at the terminals of the incoming circuit of the assemblies.
  3. Auxiliary circuits of assemblies intended to be connected to transformers whose rated power does not exceed 10 kVA for a rated secondary voltage of not less than 110 V, or 1,6 kVA for a rated secondary voltage less than 110 V, and whose short-circuit impedance is not less than 4%.

All other circuits shall be verified.” (IEC61439-1, 2009, p. 73)

The example based on the network in the Figure above shows how to determine the short-time withstand current Icw.

Title:Short-circuit withstand current rating for low voltage switchgear – Thesis for Bachelor’s Degree of Matthias Christian Schütt at Savonia University Of Applied Sciences
Format:PDF
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Short-circuit withstand current rating for low voltage switchgear
Short-circuit withstand current rating for low voltage switchgear

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8 Comments


  1. mayuri_dabi
    Mar 22, 2024

    hi,
    Can you share the references here from which the calculations are done.


  2. ziaullah017
    Feb 24, 2023

    Hi
    I am an electrical engineer having practical experience of more than 15 years. I have expertise in medium and high voltage switchgear and 220 k gas insulated switchgear. I can share my knowledge for electrical engineering Portal. What is the process for this?


  3. Susavan Biswas
    Jan 16, 2023

    I have a specification for 33kV VCB 1250 A, The Rated short circuit withstand current for 3 seconds is 25kA. However we received a type test report from a reputed organization for 26.3kA for 3seconds.
    Now if I want to implement 26.3kA instead of 25kA what will be my technical justification. Kindly suggest.


  4. rajesh chauhan
    Mar 22, 2022

    Short Circuit withstand capacity and duration for Armour (k.Amps)


  5. Hani Zakar
    Dec 24, 2020

    hi
    how to calculate the short circuit current of amore than one Generator connected on a busbar
    is the (SCCR) will be the sum of the (SCCR) of the generators or what?


  6. RABBANI
    Oct 14, 2020

    this is really helpful website. the books are free for downloads. personally from this website i have cleared many doubts and understand the concepts.


  7. Wisdom Ezeifedikwa
    Feb 07, 2020

    I am really interested in knowing how to calculate the short circuit withstand current rating. (SCCR)


  8. Mohamed Saad
    Jan 23, 2020

    I am interesting in Calculation of short-circuit withstand current rating for low voltage switchgear program

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