Welcome to our latest blog post where we'll be discussing an often overlooked aspect of overcurrent protection - the ampere interrupting capacity or AIC for short. Join us as we delve deeper into the importance of AIC ratings in keeping your boat safe from electrical fires and other hazards.
What is AIC and Why is it Important
AIC is the capability of a fuse or circuit breaker to handle the high currents that may be seen in a short circuit. For example, in a dead short even a relatively small lead-acid battery is capable of momentarily putting out thousands of amps. These extraordinarily high current levels can cause a fuse or circuit breaker to arc over and continue to be conductive: the circuit is not broken, creating a fire hazard on the boat. The maximum current a fuse or circuit breaker can safely break is described by its AIC rating.
To prevent the possibility of arc over, for the main fuse or circuit breaker in both DC and AC systems, especially in DC systems, it is essential to choose a fuse or circuit breaker with a high AIC rating.
Battery AIC Ratings
In a DC system, the AIC rating requirement varies depending on the battery size and type. For lead-acid batteries, the main fuse requires an AIC rating of at least 5000 amps and for larger battery banks it should be up to 10,000 amps. MRBF and ANL fuses are commonly used. For lithium-ion batteries, it is recommended to have a fuse with an AIC rating as high as 20,000 amps. Class T fuses are typically the only widely available, compact and affordable fuse.
Conclusion
In summary, when choosing a fuse or circuit breaker, especially a main fuse or circuit breaker, it is essential to consider the AIC rating. This must be high enough to handle the worst-case possible short circuit current if it is to prevent a potential fire hazard on the boat. We explain these things in detail in our courses on Marine Electrical Systems!