Report on enclosure internal arcing tests

The improvement of electrical equipment is an on-going process including investigative research. This paper is a report on research work concerning factors regarding high energy arcing faults, the tests conducted on containment of these faults and standards addressing arcing fault test requirements. This report is focused on low voltage, 600 V class, motor control centers but the issues presented should not be limited to only this type of electrical equipment. Also, the scope of this work is restricted to an high energy arcing fault occurring in a latched or closed compartment during “normal” operating conditions and does not include arcing faults occurring in compartments when the compartment door is open