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TNL 28 PDF
TNL 28 PDF
Please circulate to
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Quarterly Technical
Newsletter of Australia’s
leading supplier of
low-voltage motor
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control and switchgear.
electrical
equipment
rate ?
By Bill Mairs
Technical Manager
NHP Electrical Engineering
Products Pty Ltd
Flashover of test station terminals caused by a voltage transient. Test duration 0.2 seconds 50kA prospective current.
(Continued from Page 4 selection but a better approach the electrical industry have a
has been published in AS4388 fair understanding of the
-1996. problems of temperature rise
however there seems to be a the causes and remedies of
This standard details a method
lower understanding of the electric flashover are very
for switchboard temperature
problem than at the domestic poorly understood. The
rise assessment and includes
level. There is of course a destruction caused by the arc
more realistic temperatures for
major difference in the often hides the evidence but
the operation of busbars.
consequences of the flashover. breakdown does occur even
Unfortunately, the busbar
An electronic device that has with quite large clearances as
sizes are metric while imperial
been killed by a transient still there is often no surge arrester
bar sizes are still common in
looks the same but a fault in a in the system. As a flashover
Australia. This standard needs
switchboard usually results in often involves substantial
to be revised to include the
extensive arcing damage even financial loss, litigation is
imperial sizes.
though the causes may have often threatened but seldom
been identical. The confusion between undertaken because the issue
ultimate and service short quickly becomes quite
What needs to happen circuit ratings needs to be technical. The presence and
clarified by perhaps a cause of a destructive transient
The thermal performance of statement in the Wiring Rules. is also very difficult to prove
equipment requires a balance For normal distribution after the event. To overcome
between the device, the circuits the prospective short the situation Australian
enclosure and the connecting circuit level of the circuit Standards need to remove the
conductors. The 1991 edition needs only to be matched by fuzzy approach to insulation
of the Wiring Rules was in the ultimate rating. coordination and accept that
conflict with the switchgear
surge arresters should be
standards in regard to busbar While those experienced in
required.
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PO Box 199, Richmond Victoria 3121.