Overcurrent Protection of Transformer (NEC 450.3) Overcurrent Protection of Transformers >600V (NEC450.

3A)
1) Unsupervised Location of Transformer (Impedance <6%)

Unsupervised Location of Transformer (Impedance <6%)

OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Primary Voltage >600V): Rating of Pri. Fuse at Point A= 300% of Pri. Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. or Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker at Point A= 600% of Pri. Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage <=600V): Rating of Sec. Fuse / Circuit Breaker at Point B= 125% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage >600V): Rating of Sec. Fuse at Point B= 250% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. or Rating of Sec. Circuit Breaker at Point B= 300% of Sec. Full Load Current. Full Load Current At Primary side = 750000/(1.732X11000) = 39A Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X39A = 118A, So Standard Size of Fuse = 125A. OR Rating of Primary Circuit Breaker = 6X39A = 236A, So standard size of CB = 250A. Full Load Current at Secondary side = 750000/(1.732X415) = 1043A. Rating of Secondary of Fuse / Circuit Breaker = 1.25X1043A = 1304A, so standard size of Fuse = 1600A.

Example: 750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase Transformer having Impedance of Transformer 5%

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2) Unsupervised Location of Transformer (Impedance 6% to 10%)

Unsupervised Location of Transformer (Impedance 6% to 10%)

OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Primary Voltage >600V): Rating of Pri. Fuse at Point A= 300% of Primary Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker at Point A= 400% of Primary Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage <=600V): Rating of Sec. Fuse / Circuit Breaker at Point B= 125% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage >600V): Rating of Sec. Fuse at Point B= 225% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. Rating of Sec. Circuit Breaker at Point B= 250% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. Full Load Current At Primary side = 10000000/(1.732X66000) = 87A Rating of Pri. Fuse = 3X87A = 262A, so next standard size of Fuse = 300A. OR Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker = 6X87A = 525A, so next standard size of CB = 600A. Full Load Current at Secondary side = 10000000/(1.732X11000) = 525A. Rating of Sec. Fuse = 2.25X525A = 1181A, so next standard size of fuse = 1200A. OR Rating of Sec. Circuit Breaker = 2.5X525A = 1312A, so next standard size of circuit breaker = 1600A.

Example: 10MVA, 66KV/11KV 3Phase Transformer, Impedance of Transformer is 8%

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3) Supervised Location (in Primary side only) of Transformer

Supervised Location (in Primary side only) of Transformer

OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Primary Voltage >600V): Rating of Pri. Fuse at Point A= 250% of Primary Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker at Point A= 300% of Primary Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size.

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4) Supervised Location of Transformer (Impedance Up to 6%)

Supervised Location of Transformer (Impedance Up to 6%)

OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Primary Voltage >600V): Rating of Pri. Fuse at Point A= 300% of Pri. full load current or next lower standard size. Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker at Point A= 600% of Pri. full load current or next lower standard size. OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage <=600V): Rating of Sec. Fuse / Circuit Breaker at Point B= 250% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next higher Standard size. OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage >600V):

Rating of Sec. Fuse at Point B= 250% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next Lower Standard size. Rating of Sec. Circuit Breaker at Point B= 300% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next Lower Standard size. Full Load Current At Primary side = 750000/(1.732X11000) = 39A Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X39A = 118A, so next lower standard size of fuse = 110A. OR Rating of Primary Circuit Breaker = 6X39A = 236A, so next lower standard size of Circuit Breaker = 225A. Full Load Current at Secondary side = 750000/(1.732X415) =1043A. Rating of Secondary of Fuse / Circuit Breaker = 2.5X1043A=2609A, so standard size of Fuse = 2500A.

Example: 750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase Transformer having Impedance of Transformer 5%

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5) Supervised Location of Transformer (Impedance 6% to 10%)

Supervised Location of Transformer (Impedance 6% to 10%)

OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Primary Voltage >600V): Rating of Pri. Fuse at Point A= 300% of Pri. full load current or next lower standard size. Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker at Point A= 400% of Pri. full load current or next lower standard size. Overcurrent protection at secondary side (Secondary voltage <=600V): Rating of Sec. Fuse / Circuit Breaker at Point B= 250% of Sec. full load current or next higher standard size. Overcurrent protection at secondary side (Secondary voltage >600V): Rating of Sec. Fuse at Point B= 225% of Sec. full load current or next lower standard size. Rating of Sec. Circuit Breaker at Point B= 250% of Sec. full load current or next lower standard size. Full Load Current At Primary side = 750000/(1.732X11000) = 39A

Example: 750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase Transformer having Impedance of Transformer 8%

Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X39A = 118A, so next lower standard size of Fuse = 110A. OR Rating of Primary Circuit Breaker = 4X39A = 157A, so next lower standard size of Circuit Breaker = 150A. Full Load Current at Secondary side = 750000/(1.732X415) = 1043A. Rating of Secondary of Fuse / Circuit Breaker = 2.5X1043A=2609A, so standard size of Fuse = 2500A.

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Difference in C.B between Supervised & Unsupervised Location

Here we see two notable conditions while we select Fuse / Circuit Breaker in Supervised Location and Unsupervised Location. First notable condition is Primary Overcurrent Protection. In unsupervised location fuse in primary side is 300% of primary current or Next Higher Standard size and in supervised location is 300% of primary current or Next Lower Standard size. Here primary overcurrent protection is same in both conditions (300%), but selecting size of Fuse/Circuit Breaker is different. Lets us Check with the Example for 750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase Transformer.

Full Load Current At Primary side = 750000/(1.732X11000) = 39A In Unsupervised Location: Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X39A = 118A, so next higher standard size = 125A In Supervised Location: Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X39A = 118A, so next lower standard size = 110A Second notable condition is Secondary Overcurrent Protection increased from 125% to 250% for unsupervised to Supervised Location.

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Summary of overcurrent Protection for more than 600V

Maximum Rating of Overcurrent Protection for Transformers more than 600 Volts Secondary Protection Primary Protection Transformer Location Less than (More than 600 Volts) Rated More than 600V Limitations 600V Impedance C. B. Fuse Rating C. B. Fuse Rating C.B or Fuse Less than 6% 600%(NH) 300%(NH) 300 %( NH) 250%(NH) 125%(NH) Any location 6% To 10% 400%(NH) 300%(NH) 250%(NH) 225%(NH) 125%(NH) Any 300%(NH) 250%(NH) Not required Not required Not required Supervised locations Less than 6% 600% 300% 300% 250% 250% only 6% To 10% 400% 300% 250% 225% 250% NH: Next Higher Standard Size. Go to Content

Overcurrent Protection of transformers <600V (NEC 450.3B)

1) Only Primary side Protection of Transformer

Only Primary side Protection of Transformer

OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Less than 2A): Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point A = 300% of Pri. full load current or next lower standard size. Example: 1KVA, 480/230 3Phase transformer, full load current at Pri. side = 1000/(1.732X480) = 1A Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X1A = 3A, so next lower standard size of Fuse = 3A. OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (2A to 9A): Rating of Sec. Fuse / C.B at Point A = 167% of Pri. full load current or next lower standard size. Example: 3KVA, 480/230 3Phase transformer, full load current at Pri. side = 3000/(1.732X480) = 4A Rating of Primary Fuse = 1.67X4A = 6A, so next lower standard size of Fuse = 6A. OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (More than 9A): Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point A = 125% of Pri. full load current or next higher standard size. Example: 15KVA, 480/230 3Phase transformer, full load current at Pri. side = 15000/(1.732X480) = 18A Rating of Primary Fuse = 1.25X18A= 23A, so next higher standard size of Fuse = 25A.

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2) Primary and Secondary side Protection of Transformer

Primary and Secondary side Protection of Transformer

OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Less than 2A): Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point A = 250% of Pri. full load current or next lower standard size. OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (2A to 9A): Rating of Sec. Fuse / C.B at Point A= 250% of Pri. full load current or next lower standard size. OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (More than 9A): Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point A= 250% of Pri. Full Load Current or Lower Higher Standard size. Example: 25KVA, 480/230 3Phase Transformer, Full Load Current at Pri. Side=125000/ (1.732X480)=30A Rating of Primary Fuse = 2.50X30A= 75A, So Next Lower Standard Size of Fuse =70A. OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Less than 9A): Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point B= 167% of Sec. Full Load Current or Lower Standard size. Example: 3KVA, 480/230 3Phase Transformer, Full Load Current at Sec. Side=3000/ (1.732X230)=8A Rating of Primary Fuse = 1.67X8A= 13A, So Next Lower Standard Size of Fuse =9A. OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (More than 9A): Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point A= 125% of Pri. Full Load Current or Higher Standard size. Example: 15KVA, 480/230 3Phase Transformer, Full Load Current at Sec. Side=15000/ (1.732X230)=38A Rating of Primary Fuse = 1.25X38A= 63A, So Next Higher Standard Size of Fuse =70A.

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Summary of overcurrent Protection for Less than 600V

Maximum Rating of Overcurrent Protection for Transformers Less than 600 Volts Primary Protection Secondary Protection Protection More than Less than Method 2A to 9A More than 9A Less than 9A 9A 2A Primary only 125%(NH) 167% 300% Not required Not required protection Primary and secondary 250% 250% 250% 125%(NH) 167% protection NH: Next Higher Standard Size.

Transformer Protection Abstract from NEC

Transformer protection - Aabstract from NEC (National Electric Code)

NEC, Code 450.4

Calculate overcurrent Protection on the Primary
According to NEC 450.4, each transformer 600 volts, nominal, or less shall be protected by an individual overcurrent device installed in series with each ungrounded input conductor. Such overcurrent device shall be rated or set at not more than 125% of the rated full-load input current of the auto transformer.

Further, according to NEC Table 450.3 (B), if the primary current of the transformer is less than 9 amps, an overcurrent device rated or set at not more than 167% of the primary current shall be permitted. Where the primary current is less than 2 amps, an overcurrent device rated or set at not more than 300% shall be permitted.

Example
Decide Size of circuit breaker (overcurrent protection device) is required on the primary side to protect a 75kva 440v-230v 3 transformer. 75kva x 1,000 = 75,000VA 75,000VA / (440V x 3) = 98.41 amps. The current (amps) is more than 9 amps so use 125% rating. 123 amps x 1.25 = 112.76 amps Use 125 amp 3-pole circuit breaker (the next highest fuse/fixed-trip circuit breaker size per NEC 240.6). The overcurrent device on the primary side must be sized based on the transformer KVA rating and not sized based on the secondary load to the transformer. Top

NEC, Code 450.3B

Calculate overcurrent Protection on the Secondary
According to NEC Table 450.3 (B), where the secondary current of a transformer is 9 amps or more and 125% of this current does not correspond to a standard rating of a fuse or circuit breaker, the next higher standard rating shall be required. Where the secondary current is less than 9 amps, an overcurrent device rated or set at not more than 167% of the secondary current shall be permitted.

Example
Decide size of circuit breaker (overcurrent protection device) is required on the secondary side to protect a 75kva 440v-230v 3 transformer. We have Calculate the secondary overcurrent protection based on the size of the transformer, not the total connected load. 75kva x 1,000 = 75,000va 75,000va / (230V x 3) = 188.27 amps. (Note: 230V 3 is calculated) The current (amps) is more than 9 amps so use 125% rating. 188.27 amps x 1.25 = 235.34 amps Therefore: Use 300amp 3-pole circuit breaker (per NEC 240.6). Top

NEC, Section 450-3 (a)

Transformers over 600 volts, Nominal
For primary and secondary protection with a transformer impedance of 6% or less, the primary fuse must not be larger than 300% of primary Full Load Amps (F.L.A.) and the secondary fuse must not be larger than 250% of secondary F.L.A. Top

NEC, Section 450-3 (b)

Transformers over 600 volts, Nominal
For primary protection only, the primary fuse must not be larger than 125% of primary F.L.A. For primary and secondary protection the primary feeder fuse must not be larger than 250% of primary F.L.A. if the secondary fuse is sized at 125% of secondary F.L.A.

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NEC, Section 450-3 (b)

Potential (Voltage) Transformer
These shall be protected with primary fuses when installed indoors or enclosed. Top

NEC, Section 230-95

Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment
This section show that 277/480 volt wye only connected services, 1000 amperes and larger, must have ground fault protection in addition to conventional overcurrent protection. The ground fault relay (or sensor) must be set to pick up ground faults which are 1200 amperes or more and actuate the main switch or circuit breaker to disconnect all ungrounded conductors of the faulted circuit. Top

NEC, Section 110-9

Interrupting Capacity
Any device used to protect a low voltage system should be capable of opening all fault currents up to the maximum current available at the terminal of the device. Many overcurrent devices, today, are used in circuits that are above their interrupting rating. By using properly sized Current Limiting Fuses ahead of these devices, the current can usually be limited to a value lower than the interrupting capacity of the overcurrent devices. Top

NEC, Section 110-10

Circuit Impedance and Other Characteristics
The overcurrent protective devices, along with the total impedance, the component short-circuit withstand ratings, and other characteristics of the circuit to be protected shall be so selected and coordinated so that the circuit protective devices used to clear a fault will do so without the occurrence of extensive damage to the electrical components of the circuit. In order to do this we must select the overcurrent protective devices so that they will open fast enough to prevent damage to the electrical components on their load side.