TECHNICAL ALERT

Saudi Aramco

Consulting Services Department

Alert No:

Subject:

Under-rated 480V Controlgear fed from Fused

Power Circuit Breakers

Date:

005/02

July 2, 2002

All installations of low voltage (480V) controlgear fed from fused power circuit breakers
should be identified to one of the contact people below. These installations will be analyzed to
determine (1) whether they have an adequate short circuit (SC) rating or (2) what SC mitigation
is required to ensure faults will be safely interrupted.
Note: Fused power circuit breakers are generally only associated with secondary-selective
switchgear with a normally-closed (NC) tie breaker.
Discussion
Controlgear has been installed using the incorrect assumption that the fused power circuit
breaker in the switchgear that feeds the controlgear would allow the use of controlgear with a
lower SC interrupting rating than is actually necessary (i.e. series rating). This assumption does
not take into account the complex dynamics of fault interruption.
Consistent with industry standards, Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard SAES-P-116 prohibits
the use of series-rated protection in low voltage systems unless the combination is supplied and
type tested by the equipment manufacturer. For low voltage systems involving molded-case
circuit breakers, SC testing of the series-rated combinations is the only method of ensuring that
faults on the controlgear feeders will be safely interrupted.
Each installation is required to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Contacts:
Cory
Helfrich
bugshaja@aramco.com.sa)

(874-7957,

Technical Sponsor: Ron Carlson (874-6128).

helfrich@aramco.com.sa),

Jamal

Bugshan

(874-7955,