CT Theory and Testing

CT Theory and Testing
William H. Hardy, PhD

Chief Engineer
10737 Lexington Drive
Knoxville, TN 37932
Phone: (865) 966-5856
www.powermetrix.com
1
Current Transformers (CT’s)
• CT’s allow the

measurement of high
currents at potentially high
voltages.
• They come in many shapes
and sizes for different
applications
• They are potentially
extremely dangerous.
They can kill you!

2
3
Basic Theory
• Basic formula: Is = Ipy(Np/Ns) = Ip/Ns

• Open Circuit Voltage: V = 3.5 • Z b • I p / N s
• Where:
Zb = Burden Impedance
Ip = Primary Current
Ns = Number of Secondary Turns (Ratio to 1)
Tests have shown values
V = 3.5 • 10 • 1000 / 200 = 1320V
5
ranging from 500 to 11,000
volts.
4
CT – Accuracy Class/Burden
• Most CTs used in North

America are 0.3 (0.3
percent) Class devices.
• When an accuracy class
is specified the maximum
burden for which the
device meets the class
accuracy is also
specified.
5
CT – Class 0.3
• Metering error shall be less
than 0.3% when the CT is
used at FULL RATED
LOAD and with rated
burden.
• Metering error shall be less
than 0.6% when the CT is
used between 10% and
100% of full rated load.
• Error is a combination of
amplitude and phase error.
6
CT – Accuracy – Burden - Load
No Spec
Meets 0.6 Spec

Meets
Accuracy
Spec
7
Burden Class 0.3
IEEE C57.13 ACCURACY
0.3% @ BX.X RF 4.0
0.6% ACCURACY REGION X CT TEST POINT
0.60 C20 METER TEST POINT
0.3% ACCURACY
ACTUAL
ACCURACY CLASS
0.30
0.15
5% 50% 100% 200 300 400

0.15 10%
0.30
0.60 MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS

AMPS (RF=4.0)
NO ACCURACY GUARANTEED
IN FRONT OF THIS LINE
RATING X X X
FACTOR
0.1 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
SECONDARY
CURRENT
.25 1.0 2.5 5.0 10 15 20
0.5
8 Slide Courtesy Kent Jones, GE

Burden Class 0.15
PROPOSED IEEE C57.13.6 ACCURACY
0.15 @ E0.04, 0.15 @ E0.20, 0.15 @ BX.X RF 4.0
X CT TEST POINT
0.60 0.3% ACCURACY REGION C20 METER TEST POINT
0.15% ACCURACY
ACCURACY CLASS
ACTUAL
0.30
0.15
5% 50% 100% 200 300 400

0.15 10%
0.30
MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS
CURRENT (RF=4.0)
0.60 NO ACCURACY GUARANTEED
RATING X X
FACTOR
0.1 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
SECONDARY
CURRENT
.25 1.0 2.5 5.0 10 15 20
0.5
9
Slide Courtesy Kent Jones, GE
Burden Class 0.15S
PROPOSED IEEE C57.13.6 ACCURACY
0.15S @ E0.04, 0.15S @ E0.20, 0.15S @ BX.X RF 4.0
X CT TEST POINT
0.60 C20 METER TEST POINT
0.15% ACCURACY REGION
ACCURACY CLASS
0.30 ACTUAL
0.15
5% 50% 100% 200 300 400

0.15
10%
0.30
MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS
CURRENT (RF=4.0)
0.60 NO ACCURACY GUARANTEED

RATING X X X
FACTOR
0.1 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
SECONDARY
CURRENT
.25 1.0 2.5 5.0 10 15 20
0.5
10 Slide Courtesy Kent Jones, GE

Errors with Current Transformers
11
• CTs require a lot of care to insure
accurate metering.
Burden – Over burden reduces CT accuracy.
Wiring – Faulty or improper wiring reduces
accuracy by increasing burden.
Shunt – Failure to remove the safety shunt
will not keep the CT from operating but it will
reduce the readings by 50-80%
12
• When you see

a CT spec
sheet it will give
you the burden
at which the CT
meets a
specific
accuracy Class
13
• Many CTs are

only rated at
B0.1 and B0.2
• #16 wire is 4.5 mΩ/ft
• 50 ft of #12 wire is
nearly 100 mΩ
14
Errors with Instrument Transformers
CT - Shunt
• Leaving the shunt in the wrong position
produces wrong readings not no readings.
SHUNT CLOSED SHUNT OPEN
15
Errors with Instrument Transformers
CT - Polarity
• Polarity of the
connection matters.
• Wrong polarity
means totally wrong
metering.
• When PF≠0,
reversed polarities
may not be obvious.
16
CT Rating Factor
The MOST Misunderstood Spec
• Rating Factor has absolutely nothing

to do with burden.
• If a CT has a rating factor of 4 it
means that at 30°C it can be used up
to 4X its label current and maintain its
accuracy Class.
17
CT Rating Factor
• Rating Factor is a strong
function of temperature.
• If a CT has a rating factor
of 4 it means that at 30°C
it can be used up to 4X its
label current and maintain
its accuracy Class.
• Operating temperature
affects Rating Factor
significantly.
A CT with RF=4 at 30°C is
only RF=3 at 55°C
18
CT Testing
• Three Approaches in use today

Direct RATIO measurement with applied
burden
Most accurate approach tells us exactly what we
want to know
Measures directly the quantity we care about CT
Ratio
Is more complicated to perform.
19
CT Testing
• Alternate Approaches
Burden only
A compromise: tells us if circuit is stable under
excess burden
Can’t give us the ratio which is what we really care
about.
Admittance Testing
Allows us to look for changes from previous
measurements.
Doesn’t directly give ratio
Accuracy typically ±5%
20
On Site CT Testing
• The meter measures ONLY the voltage and current reaching the
meter terminals.
• To verify that the CT is working at the site we have to test the entire
circuit.
21
CT Transformers
Field Verification – Full Ratio Measurement
Measure
Here
Measure
Here
22
CT Ratio with Burden Testing
• Ratio Testing is the
preferred approach when
we can gain access to the
CT primary.
• Various types of probes
can be used for primary
side.
Flex
HV
23
CT Ratio with Burden Testing
• Secondary
connection is
made through
the test switch
• Same
connection that
is used for the
rest of the site
testing.
Ratio Testing with applied burden is the

most accurate and complete approach for
testing at CT in service.
24
Testing Current Transformers
Ratio vs Applied Burden
• CT testing can be done with very high accuracy
Reference CT
measured using
PowerMaster with
752 clamp-on
probes.
Essentially NO
ratio error, phase
shift, or change in
secondary current
versus applied
burden.
25
Reference CT
measured using
PowerMaster with
752 clamp-on
probes.
Essentially NO
ratio error, phase
shift, or change in
secondary current
versus applied
burden.
26
Reference CT
measured using
PowerMaster with
752 clamp-on
probes.
Essentially NO
ratio error, phase
shift, or change in
secondary current
versus applied
burden.
27
• CTs installations can be fully verified in the field
Burden Class 0.1

CTs various
issues: too small
gauge wire, bad
connections, high
harmonic content.
28
We can verify that the ratio is correct and constant as burden changes.
Burden Class 0.1

CTs various
issues: too small
gauge wire, bad
connections, high
harmonic content.
29
We can verify that the ratio is correct and constant as burden changes.
CT Phase C highly harmonic load. CT Phase C harmonic load removed.

Same CT in BOTH cases.
30
These are the waveforms and harmonics

when the CT falied.
31
Without the harmonic load this CT passed it’s test.

32
Burden Test Only
• If we cannot get to the primary side of the CT we can
check that the output is constant as burden changes.
Burden Class 0.2

CTs can look
quite bad but
actually be within
specs.
33
Burden Test Only
• If we cannot get to the primary side of the CT we can
check that the output is constant as burden changes.
Same performance
from Burden Class
0.5 CTs is well out
of specification.
34
CT – Accuracy – Burden - Load
No Spec
Meets 0.6 Spec

Meets
Accuracy
Spec
35
What’s Wrong?
• Same site as above: What went wrong???
36
What’s Wrong?
37
What’s Wrong?
38
What’s Wrong? Æ Power Theft
A simple piece of wire

wrapped around the CT.
39
What’s Wrong?
Phase A CT reversed.
40
What’s Wrong?
Phase A & B CTs swapped.

41
PowerMaster
42

CT Theory and Testing

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CT Theory and Testing

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CT Theory and Testing

William H. Hardy, PhD

• CT’s allow the

They can kill you!

• Basic formula: Is = Ipy(Np/Ns) = Ip/Ns

• Most CTs used in North

Meets 0.6 Spec

5% 50% 100% 200 300 400

0.60 MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS

8 Slide Courtesy Kent Jones, GE

5% 50% 100% 200 300 400

5% 50% 100% 200 300 400

0.60 NO ACCURACY GUARANTEED

10 Slide Courtesy Kent Jones, GE

• When you see

• Many CTs are

SHUNT CLOSED SHUNT OPEN

• Rating Factor has absolutely nothing

• Three Approaches in use today

Ratio Testing with applied burden is the

Burden Class 0.1

Burden Class 0.1

CT Phase C highly harmonic load. CT Phase C harmonic load removed.

These are the waveforms and harmonics

Without the harmonic load this CT passed it’s test.

Burden Class 0.2

Meets 0.6 Spec

A simple piece of wire

Phase A & B CTs swapped.

You might also like