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CurrentTransformers

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CurrentTransformers
Purpose
Current transformers are always connected in series with the circuit being measured. A current
transformer (CT) has two purposes. First, to reduce the current in the circuit being measured to a lower
value.Second,toisolatethemeterfromhighvoltages.Youmightask,"HowcouldaCTisolatethemeter
fromhighvoltages"?Supposeyouneedtometera7,200voltcircuit.Thecurrentbeingmeasuredmaybe
less than 200 amps, which could normally be handled with a selfcontained meter. However, there is no
waytobringthecurrentflowthroughthemeterscurrentcoilwithoutbringing7,200voltswithit.Therefore,
aCTisusedtokeepthehighvoltageoutofthemetersocketeventhoughthecurrentdoesnotactually
needtobereduced.Ifvoltagetransformersareusedtoreducemeteringvoltage,CTswillberequiredto
preventthehighvoltagefromenteringthemetersocketnomatterwhatthecurrentlevelswillbe.Voltage
forpotentialcoilsinthemetershouldalwaysbepickedupontheH1sideoftheCT.ThispreventstheCT
fromregisteringtheenergyusedbypotentialcoilsinthemeterasenergyusedbythecustomer.
Stated once again, current transformers have two purposes, to reduce the current in the circuit being
measuredtoalowervalueandfrequentlytokeephighvoltageoutofthemetersocket.
Caution: The secondary circuit of a current transformer should never be opened when a load is
passingthroughitsprimary!
(Seeshortingbars,selfshortingdevices,andtestswitches).

Ratio
Theratioofacurrenttransformerreferstotheturnsratioofthewindings.Forexample,a
200/5 transformation is equivalent to a 40 to 1 ratio. (200 divided by 5 is 40). The secondary of a CT is
alwaysstatedtobe5ampsattheratedprimarywindingcurrent.

TransformerFactor
Acurrenttransformerwitha200/5ratioissaidtohaveatransformerfactor(TF)of40.Knowledgeofthe
TFisrequiredwhencalculatingthedialmultiplier.

RatingFactor
Currenttransformersmaybeoverloadedwithoutalossofaccuracy.Thisoverloadratingisknownasthe
rating factor (RF). When sizing CTs, you should normally use the lowest ratio available while
utilizingtheRFratingoftheCT. Appropriately sized CTs should always produce from .25 amps (light
load)uptotheclassratingoftheinstrumentmetertheyareworkingwithwhichisusually10or20amps.
Forexample,assumeyouaregoingtometeraloadthatmayoccasionallyreach1200amps.However,the
loadmayalsobeaslittleas40amps.Byutilizinga400/5CTwithanRFof3.0,theCTcaneasilyhandle
1200ampswithnolossofaccuracywhilesending15ampstothemeter.Whentheloaddropsto40amps,
theCTwillstillbesending(.5)ampstothemeter.ItshouldbenotedthatsincetheCTwillproduceupto
15 amps, a class 20 meter will be required for this application. If a 1200/5 CT had been used for this
application, the CT would only produce .17 amps when the 40 amp load was present. This is below the
lightloadtestampratingforinstrumentmetersandmaycausealossofaccuracy.
ManyCTshaveaRFratingat30degreesCelsius(86F)andalesserratingat55degreesCelsius(131
F). For example, a 400/5 CT may have a RF rating of 4.0 at 30 C and 3.0 at 55 C. If the CT will be
heavily loaded on a hot day or if the CT is in a metal enclosure with little air circulation, the lower rating
shouldbeused.

Type
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Severalvariationsofcurrenttransformersexist.However,thereareactuallythreebasictypes,window,bar,
and wound. Window and bar type CTs are normally used to meter circuits of 600 volts and less. The
woundtypeisusedforhighvoltagecircuitsinexcessof600volts.
Whenusingthewindowtypecurrenttransformerthecustomerssecondaryispassedthroughthewindow
oftheCT.ThisconductorisconsideredtobetheprimaryturnoftheCT.Oftenitisnecessarytotakemore
than one turn through the window. Generally speaking, each additional turn reduces the ratio. For
example, two turns through a 400/5 CT makes it equivalent to a 200/5 ratio. To calculate the ratio when
multiple turns are present, divide the ratio as usual and then divide your answer by the total number of
turns.Forexample,ifyouhavetwoturnsthroughthewindowofa400/5CT,divide400by5,whichis80.
Thendivide80bythe2turns,andyouget40,whichisthetransformerfactor.
Often,bartypeCTsarejustwindowCTswithasolidbarinstalled.Connectorsoneachendofthebars
alsoalloweasyaccessforpickingupvoltageforthepotentialcoilsinthemeter.SomebartypeCTsare
designedwitharemovablebar,whichallowstheCTtobeconvertedtoawindowtype.
Wound type CTs are more commonly found in high voltage circuits. Although multiple turns are not
possible because of the fixed primary winding, multiratio CTs are available. Although these wound type
CTs are larger because of the additional insulation, the same principles apply as stated for window and
bartypeCTs.

Polarity
Ameterstatorcontainsapotentialcoilandoneormorecurrentcoils.Thesecoilsprovidebothvoltageand
currentsignalstothemeter.Thestatormustbeabletocomparethesetwosignalsatanymomentintime.
Therefore,toestablishforwardrotationofthemeterdisk,polaritymarksoninstrumenttransformersmust
beobserved.Incorrectpolarityconnectionswillresultinreverserotationofthemeterdisk.Allinstrument
transformers are wound subtractive. This simply means that H1 and X1 polarity marks are physically
locateddirectlyacrossfromoneanother.(AdditivepowertransformershaveH1andX1bushingslocated
diagonallyacrossfromoneanother).

Accuracy
Simply stated, current transformers should be rated for plus or minus .3% (3 tenths of one percent)
accuracywhenusedformetering.

BurdenRating
Theburdenonacurrenttransformeristheohmvalueinthesecondarycircuit,whichpassesthroughthe
currentcoilinthemeter.ThewiringfromtheCTtothemeterisalsopartoftheconnectedburden.Wire
size and clean tight connections are critical. As a general rule, if the meter is within 30 feet of the CT,
number 12 copper wire may be used. Distances greater than 30 feet require number 10 copper wire or
larger.
Thethermalburdenratingusuallycoincideswiththeprimaryratingfactor(RF).Exceedingthisratingwill
shortenthelifeoftheCTandmaycausealossofaccuracy.

ShortingBars,SelfShortingDevices,andTestSwitches
Current transformers are designed to have their X1 secondary lug connected to the top of the meters
currentcoil.TheX2secondarylugisnormallyconnectedtothebottomofthesamecurrentcoil.Whenload
is passing through the primary of the CT and the secondary is connected properly, very little voltage is
presentinthesecondarycircuit.Theseconnectionstothecurrentcoilinthemeterprovideashortcircuit,
whichisappropriatefornormaloperation.
IfcurrentispassingthroughtheprimaryofaCT,andthesecondarycircuitisnotconnectedtothecurrent
coil, a very high and dangerous voltage will be present. The CT becomes a voltage stepup transformer
underthiscondition.Therefore,itisimportanttoalwaysshorttheX1andX2terminalstoeachotherbefore
breakingthecircuit.ShortingbarsarepermanentlyinstalledonmostCTsforthispurpose.Simplystated,
ifyouneedtorewireameteringinstallationorchangethemeterwhilemaintainingservicetothecustomer,
the shorting bar may be closed from X1 to X2 to prevent dangerous voltage buildup. (Shorting bars that
areinadvertentlyleftclosedwillcausealossofrevenue)!
Analternative(althoughapoorone)forusingtheshortingbarwhenchangingameter,isthemetersocket
withselfshortingdevices. A selfshorting device in a meter socket is supposed to bypass the current
coils in the meter as the meter is being removed from the socket. This action is designed to maintain
continuityin the CT secondary circuit and therefore prevent dangerous high voltage buildup. Never trust
these devices! They are spring loaded and may hangup due to dirt, cob webs, etc In addition, these
selfshorting mechanisms may get damaged over time and cause partial shorting of the CT which will
resultinalossofrevenue.
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InstrumentratedmetersocketswithtestswitchesprovideanexcellentmethodofshortingCTcircuitsas
well as disconnecting voltage sources to the potential coils in the meter. By utilizing these test switches,
meters may be changed safely and efficiently. Test switches also provide an opportunity to energize
individual stators in the meter. This is important when verifying that an instrumentrated metering
installationhasbeenwiredcorrectly.Colorcodedtestswitchhandlesmaybeorderedtomatchtheutilities
wiringcolorcode.Thisenhancementsimplifieswiringofthemetersocket.
Asafinalnote,CTsarenotlikecapacitors.Theydonotholdacharge.However,theyareverydangerous
whenaloadispassingthroughtheirprimaryandthesecondarycircuitisopen.

NeveropenthesecondaryofaCTwhileloadispassingthroughtheCTsprimary!
Contentcopyright1986...2016.MeteringforLinemen.com.Allrightsreserved.

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