Definition of KAIC

Terminology

• KAIC stands for "Kilo Ampere Interrupting Capacity," but is occasionally written as "Thousand Ampere Interrupting Capacity" in some textbooks and wiring diagrams. Individuals from the U.S. are more likely to use the ̶0;thousand ampere̶1; variation. ̶0;Kilo-ampere̶1; is most frequent in Canada, the UK, Australia and other English speaking countries that fully use the metric system.

Amperes

• A kilo-ampere is a measurement equivalent to one thousand amperes, units of electrical current that represent the flow of electrons through a circuit over the course of one second. One ampere is equivalent to one coulomb per second. You can measure the number of amperes in a circuit using an ammeter.

Circuit Interrupting Capacity

• Circuit breakers are designed to protect the circuit from damage in case of a short circuit or circuit overload. They can withstand only a certain amount of current and work by discontinuing the electrical flow when that limit is reached. All circuit breakers have an interrupting capacity rating, usually expressed in amperes, or AIC. large circuit breakers used in commercial and industrial applications may be rated in KAIC. If you install a circuit breaker with a KAIC that is too low for the circuit, it may not be able to protect the circuit from damage if overloaded.

Amp Traps

• Electricians can extend the KAIC of a circuit breaker by adding traps. These devices are current-limiting fuses that open a faulted circuit before that circuit can reach a level of current greater than the circuit breaker rating. Amp traps do not work on their own and are always be used in conjunction with a main circuit breaker or standard fuse.