SaraL
Member
- Location
- Washington, DC
I'm working on a small new construction project where panelboards were purchased and installed before the short circuit analysis was completed for the system (buildng construction is still in progress, though). The analysis has found that one panel, which has an AIC rating of 14k, has an available short circuit current of 14,556AIC. While my specs do require the electrician to confirm available short circuit current and ensure that the ratings of the equipment they install meet or exceed that, I'm wondering if there are any options to remedy this situation short of replacing the installed panelboard with a new panel that has a higher AIC rating. The panelboard with the issue is the main panel for the building and is 400A, 277/480V 3ph 4W. The AIC ratings for the rest of the downstream panels look fine.
The only two options I'm aware would be looking into the use of line reactors or increasing the length of the feeder. I'm going to check on how much longer the feeder length would need to be to reduce the available current to within 14k. Since the analysis is showing that the current is only slightly over that 14k rating, I'm thinking that the additional length needed to bring the rating down to 14k might not be too bad. Any thoughts? (as an aside, I read this forum all the time...thanks to everyone who contributes!)
The only two options I'm aware would be looking into the use of line reactors or increasing the length of the feeder. I'm going to check on how much longer the feeder length would need to be to reduce the available current to within 14k. Since the analysis is showing that the current is only slightly over that 14k rating, I'm thinking that the additional length needed to bring the rating down to 14k might not be too bad. Any thoughts? (as an aside, I read this forum all the time...thanks to everyone who contributes!)