These terms were coined over the years to identify the appropriate short circuit current magnitude that engineers could use to rate the switchgears, switchboards, panelboards, circuit breakers, fuses, etc.

Without delving into details, the following is a simple explanation of these terms and when they are used. Note that these ratings are current ratings.

### Symmetrical (RMS) Current

This term is widely used to identify the short circuit rating of breakers in low voltage systems. This is because the low voltage breakers take 8 to 10 cycles to break a circuit. In 8 or more cycles (typically 15), the fault current will decay to a symmetrical waveform which, ofcourse, would have no DC offset.

Low voltage panels too are rated by their symmetrical current rating.

Most modern circuit breakers implicitly list their ratings in symmetrical amps.

### Asymmetrical (RMS) Current

During the first half of a cycle, the fault current is at its largest magnitude – occurring at a moment when the voltage wave is passing the reference axis. This asymmetry is brought on by the DC offset current (see Figure 1 below.) At the half cycle mark, the peak RMS value of the asymmetrical current is about ~1.6 times the symmetrical current.

Keep in mind that this magnitude is NOT the same as peak asymmetrical current. In 1987, the IEEE committee established this term (peak asymmetrical) to make it clear to the manufacturers that it is the peak current magnitude and not the RMS peak that generates destructive forces. How destructive? Well, peak asymmetrical current is about ~2.7 times the symmetrical current.

Realistically, the RMS quantity of any AC signal (voltage or current) is a phantom quantity. It is created to compare the AC magnitude to that of the DC i.e. making sure you are comparing apples to apples.

So, for example, a 5Amp RMS AC current is the same as a 5Amp DC current. However, the peak value of the AC quantity will be $\sqrt2 * 5 Amps = ~7Amps$.

Figure 1: Fault current magnitude following a fault

### Momentary Rating

This rating is used in medium voltage and high voltage systems especially when calling out switchgears, switchboards and circuit breakers.

This is a half cycle rating and quite similar in meaning to peak RMS asymmetrical amps except it does not have the same unwieldy name.

### Interrupting Rating

Quintessentially associated with medium voltage and high voltage circuit breakers and fuses.

It is the short circuit current a protective device can safely interrupt typically in 2 cycles to 5 cycles. The fault current magnitude is less than the momentary currents since the fault current would have decayed in this duration.

Interrupting rating can be specified as short circuit MVA too. This is given by the following:

$MVA_{sc}=\sqrt3*V_{L-L} * I_L$

where,

$V_{L-L}$ = Line to line voltage in kV

$I_L$ = Interrupting current in kA

### Close & Latch Rating or Making Current

Again, used for high voltage and medium voltage circuit breakers. It is the capability of the breaker to close into a fault and stay in that position without destroying its poles. This rating is same as the peak asymmetrical current (during the first cycle) after the breaker closes.

Typically, in HV systems, the circuit breakers are programmed to automatically reclose after opening for approximately 15 to 50 cycles (depending on the operating voltage.) If the fault condition disappears in this duration then the breaker will remain closed otherwise the breaker is tripped and blocked from reclosing. Essentially, this rating determines if the breaker can stay closed or not.

One cycle is $\frac {1}{60}$‘ th of a second, assuming the system frequency is 60hz.

### 9 Responses to What Do Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Momentary, Interrupting, Close & Latch Ratings Mean?

1. J.Jason Amodeo says:

RMS is not a phantom quantity. Just look at the remains of equipment that wasn’t designed to withstand the fault current and you’ll come away with a deep respect for RMS .Thus switches and transformers are designed to withstand this inrush of current based upon the calculations as found in establishing fault current for the AC system .
J. Jason Amodeo

2. jack says:

How to convert / calculate from symmetry short circuit current to asymmetry short circuit current,

3. Nigel Hutchinson says:

@Allan Camello, the difference is that interrupting current is the switch/breakers ability to interrupt the flow of current, whereas the momentary rating is the ability of the switch to remain intact and operational while experience a through fault current flow of “said” kA.
To illustrate: a load interrupting switch will have an interrupting rating of 600A, but a momentary “withstand” of 40kA. It will SWITCH 600A of current, but if the upstream breaker closes back into a fault, or clears a fault, it will withstand the momentary current flow of up to and including 40kA.

4. Allan Camello says:

What is the difference between interrupting current and momentary current?

5. Solomon Cooper says:

make and break current rating(IEC) is then associated synonymously with the close and latch current rating(ANSI).

6. ashok reddy reguri says:

Good information

7. dilip says:

i want to check asymmetrical waveform in my relay with current source, how it is possible