Case Study – Arc Flash While Switching – Normal Operation?: A common question that I often hear in my NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584 Arc Flash Studies training courses is: “Can simply operating a device such as a fusible switch or circuit breaker cause an arc flash?” I respond to…
My 1974 IEEE Gray Book from College – Now part of the 3000 Series of IEEE Standards I have been a fan of the IEEE “Color Books” going all the way back to my Senior Year in college – yep,…
290 MW PV Installation in SW Arizona When the 2018 Edition of IEEE 1584 was published last year, one subject was conspicuously absent – DC arc flash. DC power systems are everywhere and include sources such as rectifiers, photo-voltaic installation,…
It has been sixteen long years since IEEE 1584 – IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations was first published in 2002. This standard was highly celebrated back then because for the first time there was an internationally recognized standard…
Don’t Automatically Reset a Circuit Breaker that Trips!: The circuit breaker just tripped. Production is down, alarms are sounding in the background. Panic time. For many, this scenario would mean quickly re-set the circuit breaker and “see what happens.” Not the best idea – the question needs to…
By Jim Phillips March has been a busy month for me with Standards Committee work. I just returned home from three weeks of travel that included IEEE Standards meetings in Ft. Worth, Texas and various IEC meetings held at British…
Short Circuit Calculations – Transformer and Source Impedance An infinite bus transformer short circuit calculation can be used to determine the maximum short circuit current on the secondary side of a transformer circuit using only transformer nameplate data. This is…
Almost half of the pages in the 2018 edition of NFPA 70E are devoted to 17 informative annexes. Even though technically the annexes are not part of the mandatory text, there is an incredible amount of additional information, examples and…
New Exception 130.5(H) Exception No. 2 – Arc Flash Hazard Label Information May Not Be Required. It is amazing how the requirements for arc flash labeling have evolved with each new edition of NFPA 70E. Known as Arc Flash Warning…
The 2018 Edition of NFPA 70 provides a new definition for the term “Condition of Maintenance” : BUY NOW: 2018 NFPA 70E Changes Part 1 The state of the electrical equipment considering the manufacturers’ instructions, manufacturers’ recommendations, and applicable industry…
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