Feeder Fault Current Calculator

Introduction
This program calculates the available fault current at any point along the length of a feeder.

Information regarding the available fault current at the source of the feeder must be available.

All data is entered, and results displayed, on the input & output Sheet. Only the input and output sheet
needs to be printed.

Theory
The available fault current in a feeder is a maximum at the source of the feeder, and is reduced linearly
along it's length due to the impedace of the feeder. By knowing the available fault current at the source,
and the impedance of the feeder per unit length, it is possible to determine theavailable fault current at any
point along its length. Since this method accounts for the vector sum of the resistance and reactance
components of the total conductor impedance, it is a more accurate method than typically used for this type
of calculation. The formula is:

F = V / sqrt(P) / ((L x R / 1000) ^ 2 + (L x X / 1000 + V / (A x sqrt(P))) ^ 2) ^ 0.5 + 4 x M + 5 x N

Where:

F = Available fault current at source (A)

V = Circuit voltage (use line voltage if three-phase and phase voltage if single-phase) (V)
P = Number of phases (1 or 3)
L = Distance from source of feeder to point of interest (Ft.)
R = Resistance of feeder per 1000 Ft. (Ω)
X = Reactance of feeder per 1000 Ft. (Ω)
A = Available fault current at the source of the feeder (A)
M = Total fault current contribution of induction motors (A)
N = Total fault current contribution of synchronous motors (A)

Notes
1. The source of the feeder is usually the secondary side of a transformer, and the available fault current
at this point may be calculated using the transformer fault current calculator.
2. The fault current in a feeder is usually calculated at the downstream end of the feeder, in order to
determine the maximum fault current at the panel or other equipment being served by the feeder.
In this case, the total length of the feeder should be entered.
FEEDER FAULT CURRENT CALCULATOR PAGE NO.

Single and Three-Phase Circuits 1

CLIENT: DATE :
PROJECT: PROJECT NUMBER:
PREPARED BY: CHECKED BY:

Feeder Feeder Feeder Number Available Fault Length Wire Induction Synchronous Fault
Designation Rating (A) Voltage (V) of Phases at Source (A) (Ft.) Size Motors FLA (A) Motors FLA (A) Current (A)
F1 100 480 3 65,000 100 #122 1,384
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NOTES:
1. Voltage:
Enter line-to-neutral voltage for single phase line-to neutral loads.
Enter line-to-line voltage for single phase line-to-line loads.
Enter line-to-line voltage for three phase loads.
2. Number of phases:
Enter 2 for single phase line-to-neutral loads.
Enter 2 for single phase line-to-line loads.
Enter 3 for three phase loads.
3. Length: Enter the length of the feeder from its source to the point at which fault current is to be calculated.
 Wire Resistance, R Reactance, X
Size per 1000ft. per 1000ft.
1 #14 3.100 0.073
2 #12 2.000 0.068
3 #10 1.200 0.063
4 #8 0.780 0.065
5 #6 0.490 0.064
6 #4 0.310 0.060
7 #3 0.250 0.059
8 #2 0.200 0.057
9 #1 0.160 0.057
10 1/0 0.120 0.055
11 2/0 0.100 0.054
12 3/0 0.079 0.052
13 4/0 0.063 0.051
14 250 0.054 0.052
15 300 0.045 0.051
16 350 0.039 0.050
17 400 0.035 0.049
18 500 0.029 0.048
19 600 0.025 0.048
20 750 0.021 0.048
21 1000 0.018 0.046

Extracted from NEC Table 9

Number of Wires
2
3

DO NOT MODIFY THIS SHEET