Pre-work Exercise for Arc Flash

Webinar
2015
 Link to Calculator (if you do already have
one. Latest is 2.2 version)
• https://schneider-electric.box.com/s/hp5fpkjet1o28
3iombvfzcg9uaggz0bg
• There are 3 files in the above folder.
– If you have a 64bit computer, windows 7-10 download the
64 bit file
– If you have 32 bit, windows XP-7 download the 32 bit file.
• NOTE: For both unzip/extract and save the files to your desk top.
Double click on EXE file and let the program install (do not
change anything)
• You will get a Schneider icon on your desk top. Double click and it
will open the AC calcualtor.
– For DC (Battery) calculation download the excel file and
extract and open..
 Questions
• There are three questions for AC (slides 4-9).
• There is one question for DC calculation (slides 10-
11).
• As you work through them you may want to print the
review sheet for AC and answer sheets for both so
you can review and ask questions after the webinar.
• For Questions #1 - #3, reference the partial one-line diagram shown in Figure 1 (slide 7) and
the electrical safety procedure tables and arc flash calculator as needed.

• 1- You are tasked with gathering information from a digital meter at the Switchboard MDP
main in order to plan for a future expansion. Before entering the room you have reviewed
the appropriate diagrams and you know that the switchboard does not have a metering
cabinet, so the meter is mounted in the enclosure door near the main breaker. You and the
customer representative start to enter the electrical room which 20 feet by 20 feet with the
switchboard installed on the far wall. The customer tells you that the equipment has been
installed for some time without any issues and everything is working fine. The equipment is
closed with all the covers on.

• [a] Although you could go to some trouble and track down a trip curve for the utility fuse, it
is pointless as the available incident energy inside the Switchboard Main is most likely
greater than 40 cal/cm2 and you wont be able to open the doors to expose energized parts-
True or False. (Explain)

• (b) Using the tables in the electrical safety procedure list the PPE required to walk up to the
equipment to read the meter without opening any doors.
2. The next time you are on site customer tells you that he has already
opened the doors and covers to speed things up and everything is
energized.

[a] Which overcurrent protective device determines the level of

incident energy you are going to be exposed to, and why?

(b) You are wearing cotton clothing, safety glasses, hard hat and safety
shoes. How close can you get to the equipment? (hint: calculate the arc
flash boundary)
3. Consider arc flash (incident energy) levels at MCC-A and MCC-B.
NOTE: MCC is motor control center but it could be UPS, or panelboard
/switchboard or PDU. The method of calculation remains the same.
[a] Before you do any calculations, look at the information on the one-
line and then circle the location where you believe the arc flash level will
be the highest.
MCC-A MCC-B
Explain your answer.

[b] Using the trip curves in Figures 2 and 3 (slides 8-9) and system
information from the one-line, calculate the arc flash incident energy
levels available at MCC-A and MCC-B. Do the results match your answer
from part (a)? If not, why not?

[c] Assume there is 2000A of fault current available at the utility source
and use the actual clearing time from the trip curve. Re-calculate the
incident energy at MCC-A.
10 (1 aught) Cable not 1
 Battery Calculation Exercise
a. Using the below data sheet and battery arc flash estimator,
determine the incident energy at voltage for the model
UPS6-620MR battery operating in a cabinet, with 600volts
per string.
b. If you break the string down to less than 50vdc, is the
incident energy sufficient to cause a second degree burn if
your skin is unprotected?
c. What is the arc flash boundary?
Battery Calculation