An American National Standard
IEEE Guide for Synthetic Fault Testing of
AC High-Voltage Circuit Breakers Rated
on a Symmetrical Current Basis

To develop and test high-voltage circuit breakers to meet present and future system capabilities requires demonstration
of performance at power levels in excess of the capacity of test laboratories or utility systems. Various means have
been developed in the past to extend test capabilities such as two part testing or unit testing. A major extension of test
capability results from the use of multiple source circuits.
ANSI C37.06-1979, [1] 1, establishes current and voltage requirements which may not be possible to achieve on direct
tests. Multiple source circuits, generally identified as synthetic circuits, can achieve the required characteristics.
1.2 Scope and Purpose
This guide is intended to provide a basis for synthetic testing of circuit breakers (see ANSI/IEEEC37.04-1979 [2]) and
to establish the criteria for testing to demonstrate the short-circuit current rating of circuit breakers on a single phase
basis.
It is recognized that other test requirements exist (such as capacitor switching, or line dropping) but they will be
reserved for future consideration.
The guide contains typical circuits for demonstrating interrupting capability. These circuits are those in general use
and their inclusion should not exclude the development of additional circuits to demonstrate specific capabilities.
The purpose of this guide is to establish criteria for synthetic testing and for the proper evaluation of results. Such
criteria will establish validity of the test method without imposing restraints on innovation and improvement of test
circuitry.