My frustration stems not from the software but the availability of breaker and fuse TCC's. Software manufacturers (e.g. SKM, Easy Power, E-Tab, EDSA) from my experience provide updates every 12 months on average. However with the rapidly changing industry and microprocessors breaker and fuse TCC's change almost constantly. As manufacturers introduce products (breakers / fuses) the software industry has to play catch up and by the time it trickles down to the engineer it's 12 months. I recently had a TCC that was not available from the manufacturer, so I built it in the program that was time consuming for the first time.

My question is the software manufacturers are not in the business of making TCC's (at least to my knowledge) the manufacturers provide these each respective software "builds" the curve for the software in question.

The big software manufacturers should get together and agree on a single format for TCC's (could be as simple as a comma delineated .txt file) let the manufacturers produce the curves and have them available for download from the manufacturer. This way the information is available as soon as the device is released, and it would free up the software manufacturers to do what they do best. Enhance their software and not have to worry about TCC's. We see this done in other industries mainly the lighting industry where .ies files are provided by the manufacturer and plug-n-play into multiple software's, whatever one the user chooses. With the evolution of BIM we see cad files available also form manufacturers lighting, power, etc in .dwg, or .rft files from the manufacturers websites.

Sorry just had to vent....let's make things easier on everyone can't we please...

That would be convenient for us, but I'm not sure if there is any reason the manufacturer would devote resources to do it.

Mike, that's an excellent point.

For what it's worth, SKM has been very helpful in generating library data for obsolete devices. If you send them a manufacturer's cut sheet with all of the data, they can usually turn it around within a week, sometimes sooner.

I would think "SAFETY" would be the main reason they should invest the necessary resources, but this is just my opinion.

My concern with the existing situation is that some software companies will produce library files from a Manufacturer's TCCs but they still tell the end user to check the TCCs for accuracy! I'm paying $1600 or so a year for software support, which is partially engineering services of converting curves into library files, and I get unchecked library files back. I don't pay consultants to send me unchecked drawings, so I'm a bit annoyed that the software folks send unchecked library files. I would prefer that the software vendor certify that the library files accurately represent the curves given in manufacturer's drawing #xxx, revision #yyy.

How very optimistic.

I have had great luck with both EasyPower and SKM in receiving updated libraries when I provide them with TCC's that are not yet in their library. I agree it would be ideal for the manufacture to create these and provide to the software companies in a more timely manner. Since Eaton purchased ETap a couple of years ago I've wondered if they have made an effort to ensure their own TCC's are accurate and readily available?