PROTECTION AGAINST OVERLOADS

Determination of the actual operating current IB

IB In R x Iz
where:
R = 1 for circuit breakers
R = 0.75 for gG fuses < 16 A
R = 0.9 for gG fuses 16 A
Example:
Calculation of the operating current of a 230 V circuit supplying forty 2 x 36 W fluorescent tube strip
lights.
Theoretical power: 2 x 36 x 40 = 2880 W
2880W
i.e. a theoretical current of 230V
= 12.5 A

which should be increased by the factors connected with the cos and the output.
Generic cos values are given for various types of receiver (see the Power analysis and selection
of sources book). The output values will be given in the manufacturer's data.
If a factor of 1.8 is used for the strip lights, the following operating current is obtained
IB = 12.5 x 1.8 = 22.5 A