Electrotechnics

Types of overcurrent and

protective devices in AC systems

www.senati.edu.pe
 Objective:
Relate the types of overcurrent and protective devices in AC systems.

1. What is overcurrent?
2. Types of overcurrent
A. Short-circuit overcurrent
B. Ground-fault overcurrent
C. Overload overcurrent

3. Overcurrent protection
A. Circuit protection
B. Equipment protection
C. Location of OCPD

4. Types of overcurrent relays

5. Conclusions

www.senati.edu.pe
 1. What is overcurrent?

Overcurrent is an excess of current—

or amperage—in an electrical circuit.
(current exceeds the rated amperage
capacity of that circuit)

An overcurrent can be caused

by overloading the circuit or by a short
circuit a ground fault, or an arc fault.

Circuit breakers and fuses protect

circuit wiring from damage caused by
overcurrent.

www.senati.edu.pe
 2. Types of overcurrent

Short-circuit Ground-fault
overcurrent overcurrent

Overload
overcurrent

www.senati.edu.pe
 A. Short-circuit overcurrent

Ordinarily, short-circuits
Short circuits are
overcurrent result from
composed of high- This, in turn, causes a
unintentional cross-
magnitude fault short-circuit across the
connection of two or
currents that create a supply transformer
more current-carrying
low resistance path wiring
conductors in a circuit
that is in parallel with
i.e. Line-to-line or line to
resistance
neutral.

www.senati.edu.pe
 B. Ground-fault overcurrent
It is in essence, a short-circuit overcurrent only that
it involves one of the circuit conductors and the
circuit ground. This type of overcurrent only occurs
when the electrical power distribution system of the
building is referenced to the earth ground.

Reference grounding” typically occurs in the

Star transformer configuration where AC
transformer windings are connected to a
grounding-electrode system resulting in
grounded and ungrounded supply to the circuit.

Ground-fault overcurrent is of less magnitude

compared to the short-circuit overcurrent from the
same transformer

www.senati.edu.pe
 C. Overload overcurrent

Overload Overcurrent It can occur at the A good example of

occurs when an service, branch- overload overcurrent
existing circuit is circuit or feeder level is the overcurrent that
required to pass load of a structure’s is experienced when
current that is higher electrical power a motor is
than the rated-load distribution system. mechanically
capacity of the circuit overloaded by excess
conductors heat, excess friction
or mechanical faults.

www.senati.edu.pe
 3. Overcurrent protection

Circuit Protection
An electrical circuit is composed of
three principal components, a
power source, load, and
conductors. These components
are supplemented with a means of Equipment Protection
switching them on or off and a
means of limit control.

Location OCPD

www.senati.edu.pe
 A. Circuit protection

There are two types of OCPDs; fuses and

circuit breakers. The OCPDs must be installed
in a manner that meets the requirements of the
National Electric Code. These protection
devices have ratings.
Conductor capacity, the current rating of the
load and OCPD rating are interrelated.
The full-load current rating determines the
ampacity of the conductors and the OCPD
rating. On the same note, OCPD rating and the
conductor capacity dictate the maximum current
that can be supplied from the service, feeder or
branch unit. OCPD use different ways to protect
circuits and equipment.

www.senati.edu.pe
 B. Equipment protection
OCPDs protect equipment by opening when it detects a short-circuit or
ground faults. Every electrical equipment ought to have a short-circuit
current rating that can permit the protection devices to handle short circuits
and ground faults with limited damage to the electrical components of the
circuit.

www.senati.edu.pe
 C. Location of OCPD
Overcurrent protection for conductors and the
connected load is installed at the point of origin of the
conductors. Overload protection is located
downstream while short-circuit and ground fault
protection is located upstream.
The OCPDs (fuses and circuit breakers) located
downstream provide overcurrent protection for circuits
and equipment on the load side while at the same time
providing overload protection to the circuit on the
supply-side.

The National Electric codes specify the types of

OCPDs that can be used with different equipment. It
also explains where these proactive devices should be
located.

www.senati.edu.pe
 4. Types of overcurrent relays

Definite-time
Overcurrent
Relay

Inverse
Definite Inverse-time
Minimum Time overcurrent
Overcurrent relay
Relay

Inverse
Instantaneous
Definite
overcurrent
Minimum Time
relay
Relay

www.senati.edu.pe
 A. Definite-time Overcurrent Relay

The relay will operate when the current

reaches its pick-up value and predetermined
time. Here, the time for tripping when the
current exceeds the pickup value is set and
programmed.
The time-current characteristic curve for this
type of relay is shown below.
•The operating time is always constant,
irrespective of the magnitude of the current
above the pick-up value.
•An intentional time-delay mechanism is
provided in the relay unit in order to set the
definite operating time.

www.senati.edu.pe
 B. Inverse-time overcurrent relay

The relay operates only when

the magnitude of their
operating current is inversely
proportional to the magnitude
of the energize quantities

The operating time in this type of

relay depends on the magnitude
of the operating current. Here, if
the operating time decreases as
the current increases and vice-
versa

www.senati.edu.pe
 C. Inverse Definite Minimum Time Relay

The relay whose operating time is

approximately proportional to the fault
current is known as the IDMT relay. The
operating time of the relay is
maintained by adjusting the time delay
setting. The IDMT relay uses the
electromagnetic core

www.senati.edu.pe
 D. Instantaneous overcurrent relay

The relay has no intentional time delay

for operation. The contacts of the relay
are closed instantly when the current
inside the relay rises beyond the
operational value. The time interval
between the instant pick-up value and
the closing contacts of the relay is very
less. The most significant advantage of
the instantaneous relay is that it has low
operating time.
It starts operating instantly when the
value of current is more than the relay
setting.

www.senati.edu.pe
 E. Inverse Definite Minimum Time Overcurrent
(I.D.M.T) Relay
when the values of
the plug setting
multiplier are
.D.M.T. relays are between 10 and 20,
mainly used for the then the line in the
protection of graph tends to
I.D.M.T relay gives distribution lines. become a straight
an inverse-time line, which will be
current characteristic towards the definite-
at lower values of time characteristic.
the fault current and
a definite-time
characteristic at
higher values of the
fault current

www.senati.edu.pe
 5. Conclusions

 Overcurrent relay is a protective relay that operates

when the load current exceeds a preset value.

 An overcurrent is a condition that exists in an electrical

circuit when the normal load current is exceeded

 With a short circuit situation, the current takes a

shortcut around the normal path of current flow.

 Ground-fault overcurrent is of less magnitude

compared to the short-circuit overcurrent from the
same transformer.

 Fuses and circuit breakers are both connected in series

with the circuit they protect

www.senati.edu.pe