Suggestion on How to Use

• Industry Trainers are encouraged to use this

material in their sessions
• Download the presentation file
• Print the Notes pages and read them as you
view the presentation in the “Slide Show”
view. In this way you see the slides in large
format and have animation (when available)

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 1

Current Limitation

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved..

 Current Limitation – NEC 240.2
• NEC 240.2 offers the following definition of a
current-limiting overcurrent protective device:
• “A device that, when interrupting currents in its current-
limiting range, reduces the current flowing in the faulted
circuit to a magnitude substantially less than that
obtainable in the same circuit if the device were
replaced with a solid conductor having comparable
impedance.”

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 3

Current Limitation

• A current-limiting protective device

clears a fault current in less than
one-half cycle.
• Thermal energy is proportionate to the
square of “RMS” current
• Mechanical stresses are proportionate
to the square of “peak” current.
• The degree of current-limitation
depends upon the type of current-
limiting overcurrent protective
device selected (circuit breaker or
fuse).

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 4

Current Limiting Devices
• Circuit Breaker
• Can be labeled current limiting only if current limiting
requirements of UL 489 are met
• Requirement states – the circuit breaker must limit
the asymmetrical I2t to a value below the equivalent
symmetrical I2t and clear within ½ cycle.
• Fuse
• Current-limiting requirements are based upon the
fuse type (Class) and corresponding I2t and Ipeak
let-through requirements at various fault levels.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 5

Current-Limiting Circuit Breakers
• If the overcurrent
protective device is
a current-limiting
circuit breaker
• Per UL 489, the
RMS asymmetrical
current is required
to be reduced to the
equivalent RMS
symmetrical current
or less.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 6

 Current-Limiting Fuses

• If the overcurrent protective

device is a current-limiting
fuse
• Per UL/CSA/ANCE 248,
the fuse is required to limit
the I2t let-through to a
value equal to or less than
the value indicated based
upon the fuse type (Class),
ampere, voltage rating and
fault current level.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 7

 Current Limiting Overcurrent Devices (CB
vs. Fuses)
• C.L.C.B.
• 50,000A Fault (15% Power Factor), 100A C.L.C.B. must clear the
fault in ½ cycle and let-through 50,000A RMS symmetrical or less
• I2t of CL CB per above = 50,0002 * 0.00833 = 20,750,000 A2
seconds or less
• Class RK5 Fuse
• From previous chart, at 50,000A fault, I2t let-through must equal
500,000 A2 seconds or less
• Maximum permitted by standards requirements, based on
I2t, the RK5 fuse is required to let through 41.5 times less
“energy” than a current-limiting circuit breaker.
• Class RK1, J, CC, & T Fuses
• Have much less let through limits than RK5 Fuses

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 8

 Current Limiting Overcurrent Devices
• The degree of current-limitation can be determined
from the standards or from let-through charts.
• Let-through charts are
• Plotted from actual test data.
• Based upon fault current level.
• Available from circuit breaker or fuse manufacturers.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 9

Let-Through Charts
• Example – C.L. Fuse Let-Through Chart

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 10

Applying Let-Through Charts

• KRP-C800SP LOW-PEAK® current-limiting time-

delay fuse
• Determine peak and equivalent RMS let-through
current

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 11

 Applying Let-Through Charts

• Determine the peak let-through

current.
• Start at the prospective short-circuit
current, 86,000 amperes (point A)
and proceed up to the 800 ampere
fuse curve.
• Follow left to the instantaneous peak
let-through current (point D)
• Read the peak let-through current -
49,000 amperes.
• If a fuse had not been used, the peak
current would have been 198,000
amperes (point C).

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 12

 Applying Let-Through Charts

• Determine the equivalent RMS let-

through current.
• Start at the prospective short-circuit
current, 86,000 amperes (point A) and
proceed up to the 800 ampere fuse curve.
• Follow left to the A-B Line.
• Proceed down to equivalent RMS let-
through current scale (point B).
• Read the RMS let-through current as
21,000 amperes.
• If a fuse had not been used, the RMS let-
through current would be 86,000 amperes.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 13

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 14