Justin P. Le Blanc
Member
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
Is EMF a factor in spacing transformers one from another when they originate from the same 480V switch-gear, or is heat dissipation the only real concern when spacing transformers?
EMF factor?
- Thread starter Justin P. Le Blanc
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
Thats an interesting question.
I know we have stacked them and packed them in as tight as the ventilation clearance limitations have allowed.
I am not saying that is a good way to go, just the reality of trying to fit all the electric gear in the space provided.
I know we have stacked them and packed them in as tight as the ventilation clearance limitations have allowed.
I am not saying that is a good way to go, just the reality of trying to fit all the electric gear in the space provided.
drbond24
Senior Member
- Location
- Barboursville, West Virginia
This is very similar to a question submitted in another post, so I'll give the same answer. The whole point of a transformer is that the electro-magnetic field is contained inside the enclosure. There will be some leakage, but not enough to matter. Also, I don't see what it would matter if they were fed from the same source or not.
The biggest concern with transformer spacing is heat, not EMFs.
The biggest concern with transformer spacing is heat, not EMFs.
winnie
Senior Member
- Location
- Springfield, MA, USA
- Occupation
- Electric motor research
I am going to disagree slightly.
As far as the _function_ of the transformer is concerned, EMF will not be a significant issue. As drbond suggests, the whole point of transformer design is that flux is supposed to be contained in the core, and the tiny amount that escapes the core, then the enclosure, and then interacts with the core of the other transformer will not be noticed. Space them for heat, and they'll be fine.
However, as far as _external_ fields are concerned, eg. sensitive components being influenced by those 'tiny' fields that escape from the transformer cores, it is very likely that the leakage field from one transformer will interact with the leakage field of the other transformer, and assume a new configuration. The new configuration might have larger or smaller spatial extent, depending upon the transformer configuration. In most all installations, this is not a significant issue, because you have nothing nearby that is sensitive to these small fields.
I wouldn't worry about this unless there is a pre-existing reason to worry about stray fields (you are installing the transformers next to a sensitive detector in a lab and have been told to worry about stray fields).
Temperature issues are a much more important factor. Electrical equipment always has a maximum allowed temperature. But this number is not a hard border, safe until you get there, dangerous past. Electrical equipment will have a longer life the cooler it runs. So spacing devices as close together as permitted is probably not the spacing for _best value_. Additional cooling beyond the minimum required will probably result in longer equipment life.
-Jon
As far as the _function_ of the transformer is concerned, EMF will not be a significant issue. As drbond suggests, the whole point of transformer design is that flux is supposed to be contained in the core, and the tiny amount that escapes the core, then the enclosure, and then interacts with the core of the other transformer will not be noticed. Space them for heat, and they'll be fine.
However, as far as _external_ fields are concerned, eg. sensitive components being influenced by those 'tiny' fields that escape from the transformer cores, it is very likely that the leakage field from one transformer will interact with the leakage field of the other transformer, and assume a new configuration. The new configuration might have larger or smaller spatial extent, depending upon the transformer configuration. In most all installations, this is not a significant issue, because you have nothing nearby that is sensitive to these small fields.
I wouldn't worry about this unless there is a pre-existing reason to worry about stray fields (you are installing the transformers next to a sensitive detector in a lab and have been told to worry about stray fields).
Temperature issues are a much more important factor. Electrical equipment always has a maximum allowed temperature. But this number is not a hard border, safe until you get there, dangerous past. Electrical equipment will have a longer life the cooler it runs. So spacing devices as close together as permitted is probably not the spacing for _best value_. Additional cooling beyond the minimum required will probably result in longer equipment life.
-Jon
drbond24
Senior Member
- Location
- Barboursville, West Virginia
A very good post, winnie.
As a side note, the biggest interference I have noticed from stray EMF is the wireless connection on my laptop. If I'm standing next to our 4000 A main switchgear, the wireless signal doesn't work so well.
As a side note, the biggest interference I have noticed from stray EMF is the wireless connection on my laptop. If I'm standing next to our 4000 A main switchgear, the wireless signal doesn't work so well.
Justin P. Le Blanc
Member
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
Thank you gentlemen for your comments.
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Kilmarnock, Va
- Occupation
- Retired after 52 years in the trade.
I have never had any issues with transformers being adjacent to each other form a transformer operational issue. Where this may cause a problem is and adjacent offices. The EMF exposure will be over a larger area and should IMO be taken into consideration when designing office layout in relations to employees and electronic equipment positioning.
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