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AIC stands for Ampere Interrupting Capacity or Available Interrupting Current. It is a rating that applies to protective interrupting devices such as circuit breakers and fuses. The AIC rating is the Asymmetrical Interrupting Capability of a device, which is the level of fault a breaker can interrupt without sustaining damage. The AIC rating is different from the thermal rating of a breaker.
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What You'll Learn
AIC is Ampere Interrupting Capacity
AIC stands for Ampere Interrupting Capacity. This term is now obsolete, with the industry instead using AIR (Ampere Interruption Rating).
AIC is a rating that applies to protective interrupting devices such as circuit breakers and fuses. It refers to the interrupt rating of a breaker, or the level of fault a breaker can interrupt without causing damage to itself or other equipment. The rating is usually given in amperes, with a range of 5 to 200K AIC.
Circuit breakers are vital safety features in electrical circuits, cutting off power when needed. They are used to safely transfer electric currents, which include devices that provide energy to charged particles, such as a generator or battery. When unsafe levels of electricity are detected, an electromagnet pulls down a lever that shuts off the electricity.
The AIC rating is important as it determines whether a breaker can interrupt a fault current without causing damage. If the rating falls short, damage or injury can occur. For example, a circuit with an AIC rating of 20K that experienced a surge of 19K would need the rest of the electrical load on the main to total less than 1K, or the entire system would shut down to prevent significant damage.
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AIC is used for protective interrupting devices
AIC stands for Ampere Interrupting Capacity, also referred to as Ampere Interruption Rating (AIR) or Amperage Interrupt Capability. It is a term used for protective interrupting devices such as circuit breakers and fuses.
For example, a device rated 10K AIC will interrupt current up to 10,000 Amps without shorting to ground or exposing live parts. This is crucial to prevent dangerous situations such as explosions, which can occur when overcurrent protection devices attempt to open the circuit during a short circuit or ground fault.
It is important to note that AIC is different from Short-Circuit Current Rating (SCCR), although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. SCCR refers to the maximum fault current that a product as a whole can safely withstand, whereas AIC specifically applies to the means of disconnect inside the product, such as the breaker in a meter main.
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AIC is different from SCCR
AIC stands for Ampere Interrupting Capacity, which is also referred to as Available Interrupting Current or Ampere Interrupting Rating. This term is now obsolete, with the industry instead using AIR (Ampere Interruption Rating). AIC applies to protective interrupting devices such as circuit breakers and fuses, and refers to the interrupt rating of a breaker—the level of fault the breaker can interrupt without sustaining damage.
SCCR, on the other hand, stands for Short-Circuit Current Rating. This rating is given to the product as a whole and indicates what it can withstand. It describes the maximum fault current that a product can safely withstand without breaking down or causing immediate danger.
To illustrate the difference, consider a Milbank meter main. The AIC rating applies only to the breaker inside the meter main, whereas the SCCR applies to the entire meter main. The circuit breaker may have a higher AIC rating than the overall SCCR, but the reverse is not true—the SCCR cannot be higher than the circuit breaker's AIC rating.
Both ratings are important for ensuring the safe operation of electrical equipment. While they are distinct concepts, the terms are often used interchangeably and confused with one another.
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AIC is now referred to as AIR
AIC stands for Ampere Interrupting Capacity. It is also referred to as "Available Interrupting Current" or "Ampere Interrupting Rating". The term AIC applies to protective interrupting devices such as circuit breakers and fuses. When a product has an AIC rating, it means it includes circuit protection. The AIC rating applies to the means of disconnect inside the product.
For example, in a meter main, the AIC rating applies only to the breaker inside the meter main. The circuit breaker may have an AIC rating higher than the overall SCCR (Short-Circuit Current Rating), but the SCCR cannot be higher than the circuit breaker AIC rating.
The key difference between AIC and SCCR is that while the AIC rating applies to the means of disconnect inside a product, the SCCR looks at the product as a whole and what it can withstand.
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AIC is the Asymmetrical Interrupting Capability
AIC stands for Ampere Interrupting Capacity, or Available Interrupting Current. This term is now obsolete, with the industry instead using AIR (Ampere Interruption Rating).
The AIC rating is the interrupt rating of a breaker, which is the level of fault the breaker can interrupt without sustaining damage. AIC ratings are given to protective interrupting devices such as circuit breakers and fuses. When a product has an AIC rating, it includes circuit protection. These ratings generally range from 5 to 200K AIC. The number describes the maximum fault current that the circuit can clear safely without causing damage to the equipment or personnel.
Circuit breakers are vital because they are used to cut off the power when needed. Without these, or fuse boxes, people would not be able to use electricity in a home or building safely. When electricity enters a building, it enters a circuit breaker box or fuse box, and from there, the electrical wiring divides it into different circuits. A breaker or fuse protects each of these.
The AIC rating applies to the means of disconnect inside the product, such as the breaker inside a meter main. The SCCR (Short-Circuit Current Rating), meanwhile, looks at the product as a whole and what it can withstand. Both ratings are often confused with one another.
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Frequently asked questions
AIC stands for Ampere Interrupting Capacity, also referred to as Ampere Interruption Rating (AIR).
AIC refers to the interrupt rating of a breaker, which is the level of fault a breaker can interrupt without sustaining damage.
SCCR (Short-Circuit Current Rating) looks at the product as a whole and what it can withstand, whereas AIC applies to the means of disconnect inside the product.
