Full Load Current (FLC), Rated Current, and Nominal Current are terms commonly used in electrical engineering to describe different aspects of the current flowing through electrical equipment. While they are related, they represent slightly different concepts:

1. Full Load Current (FLC):

   • Full Load Current (FLC) refers to the current drawn by an electrical device when it is operating at its rated capacity or under full load conditions. In other words, it is the maximum current that the device is designed to carry continuously without exceeding its rated capacity.
   • FLC is typically specified on the nameplate or datasheet of electrical equipment, such as motors, transformers, and generators. It is used to determine the sizing of protective devices such as circuit breakers, fuses, and overload relays to ensure they can safely handle the maximum current that the equipment may draw under full load conditions.

2. Rated Current:

   • Rated Current is a term that can refer to the maximum current-carrying capacity of electrical equipment or the current rating of protective devices.
   • In the context of electrical equipment such as cables, conductors, and busbars, Rated Current refers to the maximum current that the equipment is designed to carry continuously without exceeding its temperature rating or causing damage.
   • In the context of protective devices such as circuit breakers, fuses, and overload relays, Rated Current refers to the current level at which the device is calibrated to operate reliably and trip or open the circuit when the current exceeds this value.
   • Rated Current is often specified on the nameplate or datasheet of electrical equipment and protective devices and is used for equipment selection, installation, and coordination.

3. Nominal Current:

   • Nominal Current is a general term that is often used interchangeably with Rated Current to describe the current rating of electrical equipment or protective devices.
   • It may also refer to the nominal value assigned to a current-carrying capacity for standardization or classification purposes.
   • Nominal Current is typically used in specifications, standards, and documentation to describe the expected or standard operating current of electrical equipment and protective devices.

In summary, Full Load Current (FLC) refers to the maximum current drawn by electrical equipment under full load conditions, Rated Current refers to the maximum current-carrying capacity or current rating of electrical equipment and protective devices, and Nominal Current is a general term used to describe the standard or expected operating current of electrical equipment. While these terms are related, they represent slightly different aspects of the current flow in electrical systems.