Predictika · Medium-voltage switchgear: metal-clad lineup ratings, cooling and housing

An AI sales agent's medium-voltage switchgear lineup, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a lineup for metal-clad medium-voltage switchgear: the voltage class, the breaker current rating, the short-circuit rating, cooling, the one-high or two-high arrangement, arc-resistant construction and the housing. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published PowlVac ratings and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: PowlVac metal-clad switchgear lineups in the 5 kV, 15 kV and 38 kV classes: breaker current and short-circuit ratings, impulse level, fan cooling, arc-resistant construction and outdoor housing. See everything this validator covers

This validator models lineups of one product line, Powell PowlVac metal-clad switchgear (5 kV, 15 kV and 38 kV classes), not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Ratings by voltage class — continuous current of 1200, 2000, 3000 or 4000 A (1200 or 2000 A at 38 kV), short-circuit ratings of 36, 50 or 63 kA at 5 kV, 25, 36, 50 or 63 kA at 15 kV and 40 kA at 38 kV, and the basic impulse level of each class (60, 95 and 150 kV), compared with what the customer needs and what the quote states.
  • Cooling and arrangement — a 4000 A rating is fan cooled and needs cooling fans on the quote; in arc-resistant two-high switchgear a 3000 A breaker in an upper cell derates to 2900 A.
  • Housing and arc-resistant construction — 38 kV switchgear is for indoor installation only and needs a Power Control Room outdoors; outdoor housing at 5 and 15 kV and arc-resistant types other than 2B at 38 kV go to a person to confirm.

Any PowlVac lineup in these three classes that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (Powell does not publish switchgear prices, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), other Powell switchgear lines, protection and control equipment, bus and cable arrangements, enclosure dimensions, and the 38 kV 31.5 kA alternative that appears in one data sheet.

The AI sales agentBuilds the switchgear lineup from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
Click to expand
    
Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Ratings that differ by voltage classOnly with care
Each class has its own list of current and short-circuit ratings and its own impulse level, so each needs a per-class rule that must stay in step with the documentation.		The class and every rating arrive together and each is checked against the class on every call.
A rating that needs an accessory: 4000 A needs cooling fansOnly with workarounds
The condition sits on the breaker line and the fans on another, so it needs a cross-line rule that interacts with the other ratings.		Breakers and fans are in one request, and the dependency is checked with everything else.
A derate that depends on construction and arrangementOnly with workarounds
The 2900 A limit applies only to arc-resistant, two-high lineups with a 3000 A breaker, so it depends on three choices at once.		Construction, arrangement and rating are in one request, and the limit is checked against what the customer needs.
Stated impulse level that must match the classOnly with care
A stated figure is a free-entry field; a rule can compare it with the class value, but someone has to write and maintain that comparison.		The stated figure travels with the lineup and is compared with the computed value on every call.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the order is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
Click to expand
    
Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1A 4000 A rating is fan cooled, and compartment-mounted forced air cooling fans are required above 3000 A; the quote has no cooling fans.
2The quoted rating is 3000 A; 38 kV class switchgear is rated 1200 or 2000 A.
3The customer needs 2500 A continuous; the quoted breaker rating is 2000 A.
4The quoted continuous current rating is 1500 A; PowlVac breakers are rated 1200, 2000, 3000 or 4000 A.
5The customer needs 1500 A continuous; the quoted breaker rating is 1200 A.
6The quoted short-circuit rating is 25 kA, which is not one of the ratings listed for this voltage class (5 kV: 36, 50 or 63 kA; 15 kV: 25, 36, 50 or 63 kA; 38 kV: 40 kA).
7The quoted short-circuit rating is 40 kA, which is not one of the ratings listed for this voltage class (5 kV: 36, 50 or 63 kA; 15 kV: 25, 36, 50 or 63 kA; 38 kV: 40 kA).
8The quoted short-circuit rating is 50 kA, which is not one of the ratings listed for this voltage class (5 kV: 36, 50 or 63 kA; 15 kV: 25, 36, 50 or 63 kA; 38 kV: 40 kA).
9The available fault current is 55 kA; the quoted short-circuit rating is 50 kA.
10The available fault current is 64 kA; the quoted short-circuit rating is 63 kA.
1138 kV PowlVac switchgear is for indoor installation only; for an outdoor site it must be housed in a Power Control Room, and the quote has none.
12The lineup is for an outdoor site; a person should confirm the outdoor housing for this voltage class.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
Click to expand
    
The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Arc-resistant 15 kV lineup: A 15 kV arc-resistant two-high lineup with a 3000 A feeder, a 40 kA rating and a 60 kV impulse level

    
The agent's request. Please quote a 15 kV PowlVac arc-resistant (Type 2B) lineup in a two-high arrangement, with 3,000 A breakers rated 40 kA, for a customer that needs 2,950 A continuous and has 50 kA of fault current available. The quote states a basic impulse level of 60 kV. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Short-circuit rating not offered in this class. The quoted short-circuit rating is 40 kA, which is not one of the ratings listed for this voltage class (5 kV: 36, 50 or 63 kA; 15 kV: 25, 36, 50 or 63 kA; 38 kV: 40 kA).
    • 
      
  • Short-circuit rating below the fault current. The available fault current is 50 kA; the quoted short-circuit rating is 40 kA.
    • 
      
  • Arc-resistant 3000 A two-high derate. In arc-resistant two-high switchgear a 3000 A breaker in an upper cell derates to 2900 A; the customer needs 2950 A.
    • 
      
  • Stated impulse level does not match. The quote states a basic impulse level of 60 kV; this voltage class has 95 kV.
    • 
    

    
2. Arc-resistant 15 kV lineup: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a 15 kV PowlVac arc-resistant (Type 2B) lineup in a one-high arrangement, with 3,000 A breakers rated 63 kA, for a customer that needs 2,950 A continuous and has 50 kA of fault current available. The quote states a basic impulse level of 95 kV. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Lineup summary. This class takes breakers up to 4000 A and 63 kA; basic impulse level 95 kV, power-frequency withstand 36 kV.
    • 
    

    
3. 38 kV outdoor lineup: A 38 kV outdoor lineup rated 3000 A and 50 kA with no Power Control Room

    
The agent's request. Please quote a 38 kV PowlVac lineup in a one-high arrangement, with 3,000 A breakers rated 50 kA, for a customer that needs 2,000 A continuous and has 35 kA of fault current available, for an outdoor site. The quote states a basic impulse level of 150 kV. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • 38 kV class tops out at 2000 A. The quoted rating is 3000 A; 38 kV class switchgear is rated 1200 or 2000 A.
    • 
      
  • Short-circuit rating not offered in this class. The quoted short-circuit rating is 50 kA, which is not one of the ratings listed for this voltage class (5 kV: 36, 50 or 63 kA; 15 kV: 25, 36, 50 or 63 kA; 38 kV: 40 kA).
    • 
      
  • 38 kV outdoors needs a Power Control Room. 38 kV PowlVac switchgear is for indoor installation only; for an outdoor site it must be housed in a Power Control Room, and the quote has none.
    • 
    

    
4. 38 kV outdoor lineup: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a 38 kV PowlVac lineup in a one-high arrangement, with 2,000 A breakers rated 40 kA, for a customer that needs 2,000 A continuous and has 35 kA of fault current available, for an outdoor site. The quote states a basic impulse level of 150 kV. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • 38 kV outdoors needs a Power Control Room. 38 kV PowlVac switchgear is for indoor installation only; for an outdoor site it must be housed in a Power Control Room, and the quote has none.
    • 
    

    
5. 38 kV outdoor lineup: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a 38 kV PowlVac lineup in a one-high arrangement, with 2,000 A breakers rated 40 kA, for a customer that needs 2,000 A continuous and has 35 kA of fault current available, for an outdoor site housed in a Power Control Room. The quote states a basic impulse level of 150 kV. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Lineup summary. This class takes breakers up to 2000 A and 40 kA; basic impulse level 150 kV, power-frequency withstand 80 kV.
    • 
    

    
6. 5 kV 4000 A lineup: A 5 kV 4000 A lineup with no cooling fans, a 25 kA rating and a 95 kV impulse level

    
The agent's request. Please quote a 5 kV PowlVac lineup in a one-high arrangement, with 4,000 A breakers rated 25 kA, for a customer that needs 4,000 A continuous and has 40 kA of fault current available. The quote states a basic impulse level of 95 kV. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Short-circuit rating not offered in this class. The quoted short-circuit rating is 25 kA, which is not one of the ratings listed for this voltage class (5 kV: 36, 50 or 63 kA; 15 kV: 25, 36, 50 or 63 kA; 38 kV: 40 kA).
    • 
      
  • Short-circuit rating below the fault current. The available fault current is 40 kA; the quoted short-circuit rating is 25 kA.
    • 
      
  • 4000 A needs fan cooling. A 4000 A rating is fan cooled, and compartment-mounted forced air cooling fans are required above 3000 A; the quote has no cooling fans.
    • 
      
  • Stated impulse level does not match. The quote states a basic impulse level of 95 kV; this voltage class has 60 kV.
    • 
    

    
7. 5 kV 4000 A lineup: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a 5 kV PowlVac lineup in a one-high arrangement, with 4,000 A breakers rated 50 kA, for a customer that needs 4,000 A continuous and has 40 kA of fault current available, with cooling fans. The quote states a basic impulse level of 60 kV. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Lineup summary. This class takes breakers up to 4000 A and 63 kA; basic impulse level 60 kV, power-frequency withstand 19 kV.
    • 
    

  

  

    
Narration transcript
Click to expand
    
The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a lineup for metal-clad medium-voltage switchgear: the voltage class, the breaker current rating, the short-circuit rating, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published PowlVac ratings and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote a 15 kV PowlVac arc-resistant (Type 2B) lineup in a two-high arrangement, with 3,000 A breakers rated 40 kA. The quote states a basic impulse level of 60 kV. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with four findings, all in one answer. The quoted short-circuit rating is 40 kA, which is not one of the ratings listed for this voltage class (5 kV: 36, 50 or 63 kA; 15 kV: 25, 36, 50 or 63 kA; 38 kV: 40 kA). The available fault current is 50 kA; the quoted short-circuit rating is 40 kA. In arc-resistant two-high switchgear a 3000 A breaker in an upper cell derates to 2900 A; the customer needs 2950 A. The other one is on screen.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned four blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
    7. 
      
  7. What this shows: for stated impulse level that must match the class, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
    8. 
      
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
    9. 
      
  9. The corrected request. It changes the arrangement to one-high, the short-circuit rating quoted to 63 kA and the stated basic impulse level to 95 kV.
    10. 
      
  10. It calls the validator again.
    11. 
      
  11. This time the validator clears it.
    12. 
      
  12. All four earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
    13. 
      
  13. Four problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    14.