Overcurrent Coordination Setting Guidelines Conductors

Considerations
• The purpose of the phase overcurrent relay is to allow for full use of the feeder, and to protect the feeder
from overloads and faults.
• To accomplish this, the relay curve should be at or below the feeder ampacity and to the left of the damage
curve.
• NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) does allow MV circuit breaker trip settings up to 600% of the ampacity
of the conductors.
• However, settings in this range will not protect the conductors.
 MV Switchgear Feeder Unit
Device Function Recommendations Comments

CT Size 100% of ampacity  

51 Pickup < ampacity  

Set below the damage curve.

  Time Dial No specific rule Set at or above the load-side
device.

Set below cable damage curve.

Cable damage curve must be
Set below through-
50 Pickup fault current level above the maximum fault current
at the maximum breaker clearing
time.
 MV Fused Switch Feeder Unit

Device Function Recommendations Comments

The size is the continuous amp
rating of the fuse.
51 Fuse Size < ampacity Cable damage curve must be
above the maximum fault
current at 0.01 seconds.
 LV CB Feeder Unit

Device Function Recommendations Comments

51 LTPU < ampacity  
LTD, STPU
  & No specific rules  
STD
Set below cable damage curve.
Cable damage curve must be
Instantane Set below through-
50 above the maximum fault
ous fault current level
current at the CB total clear
curve.
 LV Fused Switch Feeder Unit

Device Function Recommendations Comments

50 Fuse Size Size < Ampacity The size is the continuous amp
rating of the fuse.
Cable damage curve must be
    No specific rules above the maximum fault
current at 0.01 seconds.