3/8/2019 Overcurrent Protection of Transformer (NEC 450.

3)

Protection / Transformers / Transmission and Distribution

Overcurrent protection of
transformer (NEC 450.3)
By jiguparmar    |  October, 8th 2012  |  18 comments  |  Save to PDF Share!       

NEC 450.3
The overcurrent protection required for transformers is
consider for Protection of Transformer only. Such
overcurrent protection will not necessarily protect the
primary or secondary conductors or equipment
connected on the secondary side of the transformer.

Overcurrent
Overcurrent protection
protection of
of transformer
transformer (NEC
(NEC 450.3)
450.3) –– photo
photo credit:
credit:
designworldonline.com
designworldonline.com

Content
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3/8/2019 Overcurrent Protection of Transformer (NEC 450.3)

Introduction
Overcurrent protection of transformers >600V
(NEC450.3A)
Unsupervised location of transformer
(impedance <6%)
Unsupervised location of transformer
(impedance 6% to 10%)
Supervised location (in primary side only)
of transformer
Supervised location of transformer
(impedance up to 6%)
Supervised location of transformer
(impedance 6% to 10%)
Difference in C.B between supervised &
unsupervised Location
Sumary of overcurrent protection for more
than 600V
Overcurrent Protection of Transformers <600V (NEC
450.3B)
Only primary side protection of
transformer
Primary and secondary side protection of
transformer
Summary of overcurrent protection for
less than 600V

Introduction
The overcurrent protection required for transformers is
consider for Protection of Transformer only. Such
overcurrent protection will not necessarily protect the
primary or secondary conductors or equipment
connected on the secondary side of the transformer.

When voltage is switched on to energize a

transformer, the transformer core  normally
saturates.

This results in a large inrush current which is greatest

during the first half cycle (approximately 0.01 second)
and becomes progressively less severe over the next
several cycles (approximately 1 second) until the
transformer reaches its normal magnetizing current. To
accommodate this inrush current, fuses are often
selected which have time-current withstand values of at
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least 12 times transformer primary rated current for 0.1

second and 25 times for 0.01 second. Some small
dry-type transformers may have substantially greater
inrush currents.

To avoid using over sized conductors, overcurrent

devices should be selected at about 110 to 125
percent of the transformer full-load current rating. And
when using such smaller overcurrent protection, devices
should be of the time-delay type (on the primary side)
to compensate for inrush currents which reach 8 to 10
times the full-load primary current of the transformer for
about 0.1 s when energized initially.

Protection of secondary
conductors has to be
provided completely separately
from any primary-side
protection.

A supervised location is a location where conditions of

maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified
persons will monitor and service the transformer
installation. Overcurrent protection for a transformer on
the primary side is typically a circuit breaker. In some
instances where there is not a high voltage panel, there
is a fused disconnect instead.

It is important to note that 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.

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Overcurrent Protection of
Transformers >600V
(NEC450.3A)
1) Unsupervised Location of
Transformer (Impedance <6%)

Unsupervised
Unsupervised Location
Location of
of Transformer
Transformer (Impedance
(Impedance <6%)
<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.

Example:   750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase

Transformer having Impedance of Transformer
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5%

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.

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

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

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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.

Example:   10MVA, 66KV/11KV 3Phase

Transformer, Impedance of Transformer is 8%

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.

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3) Supervised Location (in

Primary side only) of
Transformer

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Supervised
Supervised Location
Location (in
(in Primary
Primary side
side only)
only) of
of Transformer
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
Supervised Location
Location of
of Transformer
Transformer (Impedance
(Impedance Up
Up to
to 6%)
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.

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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.

Example:   750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase

Transformer having Impedance of Transformer
5%

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.

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

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

Example:   750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase

Transformer having Impedance of Transformer
8%

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 =
4X39A = 157A, so next lower standard size
of Circuit Breaker = 150A.
Full Load Current at Secondary side =
750000/(1.732X415) = 1043A.

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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

Protectionfor more than 600V
Maximum Rating of Overcurrent Protection for Transforme
more than 600 Volts
Location Transformer Primary Secondary Protecti
Limitations Rated Protection More than 600V Le
Impedance (More than th
600 Volts) 60
C. B. Fuse C. B. Fuse C.
Rating Rating Fu
Any Less than 600% 300% 300 %( 250% 12
location 6% (NH) (NH) NH) (NH) (N
6% To 10% 400% 300% 250% 225% 12
(NH) (NH) (NH) (NH) (N
Supervised Any 300% 250% Not Not N
locations (NH) (NH) required required req
only Less than 600% 300% 300% 250% 25
6%
6% To 10% 400% 300% 250% 225% 25
NH: Next Higher Standard Size.

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Overcurrent Protection of
transformers <600V (NEC
450.3B)
1) Only Primary side Protection
of Transformer

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Only
Only Primary
Primary side
side Protection
Protection of
of Transformer
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
Primary and
and Secondary
Secondary side
side Protection
Protection of
of Transformer
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):

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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
Protection Primary Protection Secondary
Method Protection
More 2A to Less More than Less
than 9A than 2A 9A than 9A
9A
Primary 125% 167% 300% Not Not
only (NH) required required
protection
Primary and 250% 250% 250% 125%(NH) 167%
secondary
protection
NH: Next Higher Standard Size.

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