In general, how does fault current change as the distance from an electrical source increases?

Fault current typically decreases as the distance from an electrical source increases due to the resistance of the conductors and the impedance of the electrical system. As current flows through a conductor, it encounters resistance, which leads to a voltage drop along the length of the wire. This voltage drop means that by the time the current reaches a point further from the source, there is less available voltage to drive the current, resulting in lower fault currents at that location.

In addition, as the distance from the source increases, the overall impedance in the circuit tends to increase. More components, connections, and physical length contribute to higher impedance, which affects the ability of the system to supply fault current. Therefore, under fault conditions, the further away from the source one measures, the smaller the fault current tends to be.

Understanding this principle is crucial for designing electrical systems and ensuring that protection devices, like circuit breakers, can operate effectively under fault conditions, especially in large installations or distribution networks.