Keep up with IEC control cabinet standards

The standard for electrical equipment in machines doesn’t include proof of short circuit

All it states is that:

• The rated shutdown power for short circuits in surge protection devices must be greater than or equal to the fault current expected at the place of installation, and
• The short-circuit current must be taken into account when dimensioning the wire

Learn more:

Network planing with SIMARIS design

Electrical planning with Electrical Designer in the TIA Selection Tool

Practical tip: Load feeder design made easy

Calculate let-through current quickly and easily with the SIMARIS curves planning tool

There's no need to demonstrate the short-circuit capability of electrical circuits in the following cases:

• Switchgear and control-gear assemblies with a rated short-time withstand current Icw or rated conditional short-time current Icc not exceeding 10 kA RMS;
• Auxiliary circuits: UN ≥ 110 V, PN ≤ 10 kVA and uk ≥ 4%, UN < 110 V, PN ≤ 1.6 kVA and uk ≥ 4%
• Switchgear and control-gear assemblies or switchgear/control-gear assembly circuits protected by current-limiting devices with a let-through current not exceeding 17 kA at the maximum permitted uninfluenced short-circuit current at the infeeds to the switchgear and control-gear assembly

With SIMARIS curves, you can clearly display and compare tripping characteristics as well as let-through current and energy curves.

SIMARIS curves planning tool

According to IEC 60204, the information needed for setting up, operating, and maintaining the electrical equipment in a machine needs to be provided in an agreed language.

The documentation has to contain:

• A comprehensive description of the equipment, operating manual, maintenance manual, and parts list
• Notes on assembly/installation/connection to the power supply
• Where applicable, details on the physical environment, schematic circuit diagram, programming, inspection intervals, and more
• Wiring diagram
• Description of protective devices (including locked functions for machines that operate together in coordination)
• Technical protective measures
• Information on handling, transportation, and storage

According to IEC 61439‑1, the technical documentation must include all identifying features of the switchgear and control-gear assembly. This includes the following:

• Rated values for voltages
• Rated current values
• Rated diversity factor RDF
• Rated frequency fn
• Contamination level, degree of protection (IP code)
• System based on earth connection (network type)
• Breakdown by EMC (environmental condition A or B)
• Type of short-circuit protective devices
• Electric shock protection

In addition, the customer documentation per IEC 61439‑1/2 also contains the following:

• Notes on transportation, handling, setup, operation, and maintenance
• Device, part, and circuit identification

Technical documentation needs to be written in a language that can be easily understood in the target country. It has to be kept available for the authorities for ten years after the electrical equipment was last placed on the market, and it needs to contain at least the following elements:

• General description
• Conceptual design and manufacturing drawings and schemes, circuit diagrams
• Descriptions and explanations thereof, and also for operation of the electrical equipment
• List of the associated standards applied, or description of the measures taken to comply with the safety requirements
• Results of design calculations, examinations performed, and test reports (from the manufacturer or third parties)
• Copy of the declaration of conformity
• Appropriate risk analysis and assessment