Definition
An unintended low-resistance electrical path between conductors at different voltage potentials, or between a conductor and ground, causing fault currents that can exceed normal operating current by 10–100× and potentially damage equipment. Short circuits on transmission lines are commonly caused by lightning strikes, tree contact, equipment failure, insulator flashover, or animal contact. Protective relay systems detect faults within milliseconds and send trip signals to circuit breakers to isolate the faulted section, limiting damage and restoring normal operation to unaffected portions of the network.
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Topic Deck
Electrical Engineering Fundamentals
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Source
FERC Pro Forma OATT / LGIP