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Incorporating Arc Fault / Flash Analysis into Undergraduate Curriculum Abstract Arc Faults have been identified as an area of concern to industry since the early 1980s. More recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have revised codes stipulating that arc fault capability must be considered when doing electrical work on any circuit greater than 50V. This work includes taking voltage measurements to verify that circuits are deenergized. Many organizations require their employees working on electrical systems to wear flash suits. These suits can cost over $700.

Traditionally, power systems labs at the author’s University use Hampden electrical panels to provide electric power. These panels provide a flexible method to deliver power for various experiments. The panels utilized industrial breakers and connection methods. OSHA and NFPA codes require proper personal protective equipment. However, using flash suits is not practical in a typical lab environment. This paper will discuss the methods to address arc flash in the power lab as well as how the arc flash analysis was incorporated into the class

Introduction The author teaches several courses in electric machines and power systems. These courses have a lab component to provide students the opportunity to interact with the equipment discussed in lecture. The focus of the Electrical Engineering Technology program the author is a faculty member off is on applications. As a result, the EET program commits to offering a learning environment where equipment students are likely to encounter in industry is utilized. As a result, the labs are outfitted with the following industrial equipment: • Resistive load bank adjustable in 72 steps. • Reactive load bank (capacitive) in 12 steps. • DC machine driven via a variable speed drive or synchronous or induction motor. • Synchronous machine driven by variable speed drive or DC motor. • Induction machine driven by variable speed drive or DC motor. • Adjustable DC power supply from 0 to 500Vdc. • Three phase 480Vac, wye connected supply via nine section Motor Control Center (MCC) • Three phase 208Vac, wye connected supply. • Single phase 120/240Vac. • Supply and patch panels and cables. • Computers with Pentium processor and flap panel display. • Various measurement devices including 600V multimeters and clamp-on power meters.

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Villeneuve, P. (2008, June), Arc Flash Analysis At The University Of Maine Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--3228