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CHAPTER
5
Connecting and
Troubleshooting
Transformers
Topics to Be Covered
5.1 Checking out a Transformer
5.1.1 Testing for Turns Ratio
5.1.2 Insulation Resistance and Continuity Testing
5.1.3 Changing Transformer Taps
5.1.4 Testing for Transformer Polarity
5.1.5 Always Check the Voltage
5.1.6 Checking Transformer Loading
93
Delmar 32715 CH05 1/12/01 12:46 PM Page 94
94 Chapter 5
Apply
120 Volts AC
H-1
H-2
coil with a low voltage such as 120 volts. Measure the input voltage and the output
voltage with a voltmeter. The ratio is calculated as:
Input 4 Output = Transformer Ratio
CAUTION! Transformers work both ways! For this test, the low-input voltage
must be connected to the HIGH-voltage winding. If the input voltage was connect-
ed to the low-voltage winding, the transformer would be a step-up transformer, and
a lethal voltage will appear at the high-voltage terminal.
Insulation Test
The readings between the high-voltage terminal and the low voltage ( X1, X2, or X3)
terminals should be infinite. Readings between the low voltage terminals and the
transformer tank should be infinite. The insulation test readings with a three-phase
transformer should be as shown in table 51.
Continuity Test
Readings between each of the primary terminals and each of the secondary terminals
should be zero as shown in table 52.
H1 to H2 Zero X1 to X2 Zero
H2 to H3 Zero X2 to X3 Zero
H3 to H1 Zero X3 to X1 Zero
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96 Chapter 5
Taps
%
105 A
102.5 B
100 C
97.5 D
95 E
Subtractive Additive
Transformer Transformer
Apply
120 Volts AC
H-1
For a 10 to 1
Additive Transformer,
Voltmeter Will Read
132 Volts H-2
additive
120 V
+ 12 V V
132 V
X-3 X-1
Short Out H-2
and Adjacent
Secondary Terminal
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H-1
H-2
V1 V2
I1 I2
Neutral
100 Chapter 5
20
18
in Thousands of Amperes
240-Volt Short Circuit
16
14 167 kVA Transformer
12
10
8
6 75 kVA Transformer
0
20 40 60 80 100 120 feet
6 12 18 24 30 26 meters
Length of 4/0 Aluminum Service
Resonating A-Phase
Circuit Completed through -
Cable Capacitance to Ground
A-Phase Open
Inductive
Load
in
- - Parallel -
Cable Cable
Capacitance Capacitance
on Each Phase on Each Phase
102 Chapter 5
+ +
+ +
+
X-3 X-3
X-2 X-1 X-2 X-1
Neutral Neutral
120V 120V
240V
120V
Series Connection Parallel Connection
Secondary Coils are in Series Secondary Coils are in Parallel
One Cutout
H-1
H-1
H-2 H-2
+ +
+ + + +
+
+
X-3 X-3
X-2 X-1 X-2 X-1
Neutral
120V
240V 120V
104 Chapter 5
The load is divided among all the transformers connected to the bus.
Individual customers with peak loads are supplied by the greater available
reserve capacity of the multiple transformers.
Fuses or network protectors on the secondary bus between transformers iso-
late faulted transformers and interrupt only the customers near the defective
transformer.
A customer has intermittent Check for a voltage unbalance in the two 120-volt legs.
power and flickering lights. If one 120-volt leg is two or more volts different from
the other 120-volt leg, then turn on a large 120-volt
load. If the voltage increases on one leg and decreases
on the other, then there is a poor neutral connection.
A loose connection on either leg can increase resistance
to current flow and will also result in arcing and
intermittent power.
A customer is receiving half If the voltage at the meter base is normal, then
power. Some of the lights one of the main fuses at the service entrance is likely
work and some do not. blown. A voltage reading of about 120 volts between
None of the 240-volt the top and the bottom of the fuse indicates that
appliances work. the fuse is blown.
1. The voltage rating of the transformer primary coil must be compatible with
the applicable circuit. The voltage impressed across the primary coil will
depend on whether the coil is connected in a wye (phase-to-neutral) or a delta
(phase-to-phase) configuration.
2. The transformer must be able to deliver the needed secondary voltage (see
Table 5.3). The supplied secondary voltage will be dependent on:
the voltage rating of the secondary coil.
whether the transformer secondaries are interconnected in a wye or delta
configuration.
whether the secondary coils inside the transformer are connected together
in series or in parallel.
3. If equipped with tap changers, the transformers must be on the same voltage
tap. Dual voltage transformers must be set on the proper voltage.
4. The impedance of the transformers in the bank should be within 0.2 percent
of each other to avoid having the transformer with the lowest impedance tak-
ing a greater share of the load. In other words, if one transformer has an
impedance of 2 percent, then the impedance of the other transformer should
be between 1.8 percent and 2.2 percent.
+
Phase B
+ + +
+ Phase
C Phase A Phase B
Phase C
+
Phase
A
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2. When each of the three transformers have their coils connected between a
phase and a common neutral (figure 5.12), the transformers are interconnect-
ed in a wye configuration.
+ Phase A
+ + + +
Phase B
Neutral
+ + + + + +
Neutral
+ + + + + +
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+ + + + + +
1
240V 240V 240-V
2 Delta Service
240V
3
120/240-V
120V 120V Single-Phase
240V Service
Vector Drawing
24
0V
of Secondary
210V
0V
24
1 3
120V 120V
240V
A
B A
C B
N C
H1 H2 H1 H2 H1 H2 H1 H2
+ + + +
X3 X1 X3 X1 X3 X1 X3 X1
X2 + X2 + X2 + X2 +
C A B C A B
2
+
Vector Drawing
0V
of Secondary
24
-
1 3
+ 240V -
The phase-to-phase voltage is =3 or 1.73 times the phase-to-neutral voltage. The
voltage across each transformer coil is equivalent to the phase-to-neutral voltage
The primary neutral must be connected to the secondary neutral in a wye-wye
transformer bank. This neutral connection provides a path for any fault current
or current from an unbalanced load to get back to the source. There is a poten-
tially lethal voltage between the primary and secondary neutrals if they are not
connected together.
A standard single-phase 120/240-volt lighting service can be provided from a
three-phase 120/208-volt service. In figure 5.17, the internal secondary coils in
the center transformer are left in series to provide a 120/240-volt supply. The
kVA rating of the center transformer is usually increased to provide the capac-
ity for the extra load.
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+ + + + + +
120V 120V
240V
120/208-Volt Wye with 120/240 Lighting Service
If Then
A customer has an Open the customers switch and check the voltage.
abnormal voltage. If the voltage on a phase-to-neutral reads zero, then
check for a defective transformer or an open phase on
the primary feeder. If the voltages on all three phases
are balanced, close the customer switch and check the
voltage. An unbalanced voltage indicates the customers
load is unbalanced.
The load is balanced at Open the customers main switch and check that the
the service entrance but utility supply voltage is correct. Close the customers
there is still a problem. circuit breakers, one circuit at a time, and take voltage
and current readings. A suspected circuit will have an
unbalanced voltage or abnormal current readings for
the equipment being fed.
All three-phase equipment One phase is probably out. A phaseout can be due
and some single-phase to a feeder problem, a transformer problem, or a blown
equipment will not fuse at the service entrance.
operate.
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The customer has One or more phases feeding the customer is out of
abnormal voltage. service. Check the transformers and the primary feeder.
With the customers
switch open, the The customers switch must be open for this voltage
voltage on the supply check because the back feed in a delta service can show
side shows one or a voltage at the service entrance.
more of the phase-to-
phase voltages at
zero volts.
At the main panel, the When one phase of a primary feeder loses power, the
phase-to-phase voltage voltage at a wye-delta transformer bank will have
readings are lower than a reduced voltage on two of the phase-to-phase
normal and one phase- readings and zero volts on the third phase-to-phase
to-phase voltage reading reading.
is zero volts. For example,
on a 240-volt service, the On a wye-delta transformer bank, the primary neutral
readings are 210 volts, is not connected to the system neutral or the secondary
210 volts, and 0 volts. neutral, but it is left ungrounded or floating. If the
transformer neutral was grounded and one primary
phase is opened, the transformer bank would become
an open-delta bank and continue to supply three-phase
power at a 57 percent reduced capacity exposing the
bank to a burnout because of an overload.
At the main panel all A ground fault exists on a phase. When one phase
three phase-to-phase of a delta circuit is faulted to ground, it does not
voltage readings are blow a fuse because there is no path for a return current
normal but one phase- to the source. Both the phase and the ground are alive
to-ground is reading and, therefore, a faulted phase-to-ground voltage
very low or zero voltage. reading will show a very low or zero voltage difference.
1. If going to a higher voltage, existing voltage regulators and capacitors will need
to be removed or replaced.
114 Chapter 5
3. Change the tap setting on the dual voltage transformers to the new voltage.
4. If the circuit has been energized at the new voltage, energize the transformer
and take voltage and phase rotation checks before the customer applies load
(remove meter or open customer breaker).
5. Or, if it is preferred to energize the new higher-voltage surge arresters from a
remote location, leave the circuit out under the clearance and attach the riser
and arrester to the circuit. Leave the customers disconnected and perform volt-
age checks at each transformer after the circuit is energized.
6. Or, if the transformer will be fed from a primary step-down transformer, ensure
that there is proper voltage and phase rotation before connecting customers.
7. Having the transformers on a check-off sheet will reduce the risk of forgetting
to change the tap on a transformer and leaving a customer with a high-
damaging voltage.
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