Canadian electrical code confusion.

Thread Starter

matt_t

Joined Aug 18, 2012
30
Hello, I was wondering if anyone could interpret the following rule from the Canadian electrical code for the following question:

The following bank of transformer arc welders are to be connected in a shop distribution panel feeder using R90 copper conductors:

Welder 1 - Primary current rating - 35 Amp Duty cycle - 60%
Welder 2 - Primary current rating - 65 Amp Duty cycle - 50%
Welder 3 - Primary current rating - 48 Amp Duty cycle - one hour
Welder 4 - Primary current rating - 90 Amp Duty cycle - 60% What is the calculated required ampacity of the overcurrent protection device required for the feeder?

A) 200.5 Amps
B) 270.9 Amps
C) 280.2 Amps
D) 284.5 Amps

Extract from the code:

42-006 Supply conductors​
(1) The supply conductors for an individual transformer arc welder shall have an ampacity of not less than the
value obtained by multiplying the rated primary current of that welder in amperes by a factor of
(a) 1.00, 0.95, 0.89, 0.84, 0.78, 0.71, 0.63, 0.55, or 0.45 for welders having a duty cycle of 100, 90, 80,
70, 60, 50, 40, 30, and 20% or less respectively; or
(b) 0.75 for a welder having a time rating of 1 h.
(2) The supply conductors for a group of transformer arc welders shall have an ampacity not less than the sum
of the currents determined for each welder in the group in accordance with Subrule (1) multiplied by a
demand factor of
(a) 100% of the two largest calculated currents of the welders in the group; plus
(b) 85% of the third largest calculated current of the welders in the group; plus
(c) 70% of the fourth largest calculated current of the welders in the group; plus
(d) 60% of the calculated currents of all remaining welders in the group.
(3) Lower values than those given in Subrule (2) shall be permitted in cases where the work is such that a high
operating duty cycle for individual welders is impossible.​
42-008 Overcurrent protection for transformer arc welders​
(1) Each transformer arc welder shall have overcurrent protection rated or set at not more than 200% of the
rated primary current of the welder, unless the overcurrent device protecting the supply conductors meets
this requirement.
(2) Each ungrounded conductor supplying a transformer arc welder shall have overcurrent protection rated or
set at not more than 200% of the allowable ampacity of the conductor as specified in Table 1, 2, 3, or 4,
except that the next higher rating or setting may be used where
(a) the nearest standard rating of the overcurrent device is less than the rating or setting otherwise
required by this Rule; or
(b) the rating or setting otherwise required by this Rule results in too frequent opening of the overcurrent
device.
(3) The maximum rating or setting of an overcurrent device protecting a feeder supplying a group of
transformer arc welders shall not exceed a value calculated by determining the maximum rating or setting
of overcurrent device permitted by Subrules (1) and (2) for the welder allowed the highest overcurrent
protection and adding to this value the sum of ampacities as calculated by Rule 42-006 for all other welders​
in the group.
 

Thread Starter

matt_t

Joined Aug 18, 2012
30
Here is what I worked out for the duty cycles:

Welder 1: 35A x 0.78 = 27.3A
Welder 2: 65A x 0.71 = 46.15A
Welder 3: 48A x 0.75 = 36A
Welder 4: 90 x 0.78 = 70.2A

Group demand factor =
70.2A x 100% = 70.2A
46.15A x 100% = 46.15A
36A x 85% = 30.6A
27.3A x 70% = 19.11A

Rule 42-008 (3) from what I interpret means to use the largest welder load which is 70.2 x 200% + the rest of the loads which equals 236.26A which is none of the answers. I find the last paragraph of the code completely confusing. Can anyone help me out on this?
 
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