Form No. PDB
Page 19 of 23
Data Sheet #1049
07-05-07
BU-SB07255
Application Notes
Proper Application
When applying Power Distribution Blocks (PDBs) and
terminal blocks, there are several requirements that must be
satisfied, based upon various UL Standards, the NEC, and
the specific application. Some of the requirements and ratings
include: voltage, continuous current, wire range (load and line
side), conductor terminal temperature rating, short-circuit
current rating or withstand rating (SCCR), type and amp
rating of upstream overcurrent protective device (fuse or
circuit breaker) and spacing (between uninsulated live part
and uninsulated grounded part or uninsulated live parts of
opposite polarity). The requirements vary, based on the
application for industrial control panels (feeder circuit or
branch circuit), field applications, or HVAC applications.
New requirements in the 2005 NEC for a marked short-
circuit current rating (SCCR) on industrial control panels
(NEC 409.110), industrial machinery (NEC 670.3A), and
commercial/industrial HVAC equipment (NEC 440.4(B)) have
resulted in considerable attention being placed upon the
proper selection and application of power distribution blocks
and terminal blocks. In addition, UL508A Industrial Control
Panels has a requirement that the assembly be marked with
its short-circuit current rating. Per UL508A, each power
circuit component in the panel, such as a PDB, has a SCCR
expressed in amperes or kiloamperes and voltage. The
SCCR shall be established by either being marked on the
product, the instruction sheet provided with it, or from
UL508A Supplement SB Table SB4.1. If an assembly short-
circuit current rating above 10,000 amperes is desired, a
power distribution block or a terminal block with a high
short-circuit current rating must normally be utilized.
The following material includes some application notes on
power distribution block and terminal block SCCR, UL Listed
1953 vs UL Recognized 1059, spacing requirements,
conductor ampacities, conductor termination ratings affecting
conductor ratings, and SCCR for multi-lug switches and
circuit breakers.
UL Listed 1953 vs. UL Recognized 1059
Listed products simply require checking to ensure that the
product is used in accordance with its listing and labeling.
However, for recognized products, such as terminal blocks,
the “Conditions of Acceptability” must be investigated to
ensure the product is suitable for the specific application, and
then the procedure description must be documented in the
manufacturer’s procedure for the assembly.
Most power distribution blocks available today are actually
terminal blocks, and are recognized to UL 1059, the terminal
block standard. Terminal blocks may or may not meet the
spacing needed for OEM applications. Terminal blocks are
marked with a UL recognition mark to ensure that the
designer and UL inspector checks, among other things, that
there is adequate spacing for the OEM application in which
they are being applied. Power distribution blocks are
evaluated to UL1953, the power distribution block outline of
investigation and are listed for general installation, which
means they have adequate spacing for most OEM and field
applications. These power distribution blocks are marked with
a listing mark, which means that the inspector does not need
to check ”conditions of acceptability” as is needed with
recognized products. As listed products, PDBs evaluated to
UL1953 are suitable for use in the field. For example, an
electrical contractor may install them in a metal wireway,
something that may not be done with a recognized product
such as a terminal block.
Marking Equipment with SCCR
Marking the equipment with its short-circuit current rating
(SCCR) is another important consideration in the proper
application of PDBs and terminal blocks. This datasheet
provides the details on Cooper Bussmann power distribution
blocks and terminal blocks that have high short-circuit
current ratings. Using these PDBs and terminal blocks with
appropriate overcurrent protective devices makes it easier to
achieve a high short-circuit current rating for the entire panel
assembly.
SCCR for Wire Management Products
There are different ways to determine the SCCR for wire
management products (power distribution blocks, terminal
blocks and multi-lug connectors) per UL508A Supplement SB:
(1) Use tested and listed combinations, which consist of a
specific part number and a specific type and maximum size
overcurrent protective device. For instance, the power
distribution blocks in this datasheet are all SCCR tested and
listed combinations with fuses. An upstream current-limiting
fuse of a specific class and maximum ampere rating as
shown in the tables can be used to achieve the SCCR in the
tables. Otherwise, the SCCR of the power distribution block
will be determined by (2) or (3).
Combination SCCRs
Up to 200KA
Use Tables
Specified fuse class
with amp rating no
greater than maximum
shown