Short circuit fault current calculations software and mobile apps

Short Circuit Analytic (SCA) software and mobile apps perform available short circuit fault current calculations in three-phase electric power systems you are working with. The programs take into consideration all of the key electrical parameters of power distribution system including power supply, cables, transformers, motors and generators. Short Circuit Analytic software and mobile apps ensure accurate results by performing comprehensive short circuit analysis and taking into account both active and reactive parts of equipment impedance.

short circuit analytic
SCA software program for Windows PCs

NOTE: Number of child elements for each parent element has been limited to one (1) only in free unregistered version of the program.

Short Circuit Analytic program is now available by mail in disk format or via download from our web server. Payments can be made online using Visa or MasterCard credit card, through PayPal or any other acceptable payment form. The installation package and the individual product registration credentials will be sent to you within 24 hours of placing your order. We offer money-saving bundles of programs. If you bundle Short Circuit Analytic (SCA V1.0) program with ARCAD AFA V5.0 arc flash software you will pay less than purchasing the programs separately.

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SCA mobile

SCA mobile can be downloaded, installed and used for free. The free SCA mobile for iOS operated systems is limited to 208V systems only. Number of child elements for each parent element has been limited to one (1) only in free version of the SCA mobile for Androids. There's an optional in-app 'Pro Upgrade' purchase available for $79.99. The upgrade will remove the above mentioned limitations.

short circuit apps
Download on Google Play Download on App Store

Features and Benefits:

  • Calculate 3-phase, phase-to-phase short circuit currents at each bus within your power distribution system
  • Determine maximum available short circuit current, the amount of maximum upstream short circuit current and the minimum available short circuit current contributed by one source only. Both the available short circuit current (ASCC) and the part of ASCC through protection device current values are required for arc flash hazard analysis using the NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584 methods
  • Compute contributions from generators and motors
  • Add North American wire gauge cables as well as international cables
  • Perform comprehensive short circuit analysis by taking into account both active and reactive parts of equipment impedance
  • Determine fault X/R ratio at each bus
  • Save single-line diagrams and equipment data
  • Export, import one-line diagrams and all the equipment data for easy sharing

Short-Circuit-Analytic V1.0 How To's

Additional information about Short Circuit Analytic

Simple point-to-point short circuit fault current calculations are carried out using Ohm's law and equipment resistance values. To determine fault current at various locations within power system, the system characteristics such as available short circuit value at service entrance, line voltage, transformer KVA rating and percent impedance, conductor characteristics are utilized.

The calculations become more complicated when resistance values are replaced with an impedance values. For instance, transformer ratio of reactance to resistance (X/R) is used along with transformer percent impedance to determine X and R values on a per unit bases. Similarly, the impedance for conductors within the electrical system are also broken down into X and R components of the impedance.

The peak asymmetric fault current is also determined by X/R ratio. The total asymmetric current is a measure of the total DC component and the symmetrical component. The asymmetrical component decays with time and will cause the first cycle of a fault current to be larger in magnitude than the steady-state fault current. Also, the decay of the DC component depends on the X/R ratio of the circuit between the source and the fault.

Knowing the fault X/R ratio is essential when selecting electrical and protection equipment. For example, all low-voltage protective devices are tested at predetermined X/R ratios. If the calculated X/R ratio at any given point in the electrical distribution system exceeds the tested X/R ratio of the overcurrent protective device, alternate gear with adequate X/R rating should be considered or the device effective rating must be reduced.

Furthermore, electrical motors are contributing short circuit current back into the system during a fault condition. The total motor contribution depends on factors such as motor FLA, voltage, the reactance of the systems at the point of the fault and the reactance of the motor.

SCA V1.0 for Windows operated PCs - System Requirements & Troubleshooting

SCA V1.0 was written in C# programming language, best viewed as a descendant of both C++ and Java languages. The language was developed by Microsoft within its .NET initiative and later approved as a standard by ECMA (ECMA-334) and ISO (ISO/IEC 23270:2006). SCA V1.0 requires Microsoft .NET Framework Version 3.5 or higher to run. If you experience problems running SCA V1.0 once you install it on your PC, check please if you have .NET Framework Version 3.5 or higher installed on your PC system. To see which versions are installed, view the %WINDIR%\Microsoft.NET\Framework directory. (You should also view the Framework 64 directory on a 64-bit computer, which can have 32 or 64-bit versions installed.) Each version of the .NET Framework has a directory, and the first two digits of the directory name identify the .NET Framework version; for example: v1.1.4322 for the .NET Framework 1.1, v3.5 for the .NET Framework 3.5, and so on.

If there is no Microsoft .NET framework installed on your system, or the installed .NET framework version is less than 3.5, please follow the Download .NET Framework Version 3.5 link to update your system. Should you encounter any problem installing or running SCA V1.0, contact us and we will assist you in identifying and resolving the problem.