Quick question. I have a Cutler Hammer 42 position 208/120 3 phase panel that I'm thinking about using for a new panel at work. It uses the snap-in /push-in breakers rather than bolt on style. Is there any reason not to use this in an industrial setting ? none of the breakers will be used as a switch for any day to day use. Its a 225 amp panel brand new. It will be fed from a 480 pri / 208/120 secondary 75kva transformer.
Snap-in Breaker panel for industrial use
- Thread starter mmiller
- Start date
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Barndog
Senior Member
- Location
- Spring Creek Pa
I would say go ahead and use it we have panels where i work that will accept both snap and bolt in and i think a few that are just snap in panels and have no problem with them.
You will have to determine the available short circuit current at the load end of the feeder and compare that with amperes interrupting current of the panelboard and contained equipment. The former cannot exceed the latter (or the latter must exceed the former).
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- Location
- Logan, Utah
I agree.
Plug in style breakers have a lower AIC rating then bolt in breakers so the available fault current may force you to use a bolt in style panelboard.
Chris
A quick look at a Sq-D Catalog shows 10kaic for both types.
Anyway, the 75kva transformer mentioned would have much less than that.
I would have no problem installing a panel with plug-in breakers in a commercial/industrial environment.
It does, however, make it almost too easy to install breakers with the panel energized. But that would probably never hardly ever happen, except maybe in an emergency, or something.
db
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
That is absolutely not true.
Square D plug-on QO breakers are available up to 65kAIC.
Cutler Hammer offers their Quicklag family up to 65kAIC plug-on.
GE offers a limited selection, of 65kAIC plug-on panelboard breakers.
- Location
- Massachusetts
A 75 is going to have less than 10kaic?
That surprises me but I really don't know much about.
- Location
- Logan, Utah
I seldom do SCC/AIC evaluations (usually already done for me)... but it is my understanding that a transformer's secondary scc is dependent on its primary's scc. Thus you cannot say it's less than 10kaic when you don't know the primary scc...???
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