Measuring aperage on feeders

[garzajk]

I havean mcc fed with 3, 3con/500mcm cables. 3 cables per phase.
When taking an amp reading do I need to have my meter around all 3 wires on the phase to get an actual amperage or can I just have it around on of the cables? Thanks on advance.

 

[SG-1]

The meter needs to be around all the phase conductors. If too big you could do one at a time and add the readings together, provided the load is stable.

 

[garzajk]

Ok, thanks. We were discussing that at work today. The last time a amp reading was taken was about a year ago. The last electrician wrote it down on the main but it looked kind of low for a 1200 amp main.

 

[nakulak]

Measuring aperage on feeders ?

 

[SG-1]

The meter needs to be around all the phase conductors.

Let me be a little more clear. The meter needs to be around all the phase conductors of the Phase you want to measure.

As stated before you might think the meter should be around A,B, & C Phases at the same time. This would result in reading the imbalence between the phases.

 

[garzajk]

Ok, got it. Thanks. I know I misspelled amperage. I am viewing and typing this on my iPhone.

 

[mivey]

Let me be a little more clear. The meter needs to be around all the phase conductors of the Phase you want to measure.

As stated before you might think the meter should be around A,B, & C Phases at the same time. This would result in reading the imbalence between the phases.

Are you expecting a big difference on parallel runs?

 

[philly]

Let me be a little more clear. The meter needs to be around all the phase conductors of the Phase you want to measure.

As stated before you might think the meter should be around A,B, & C Phases at the same time. This would result in reading the imbalence between the phases.

I dont think putting the meter around all three phases would show unbalance, but rather would show zero sequecne or ground current. Even with unbalacned currents they should sill all sum to zero through a zero sequence CT.