Phaseback VSGR

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thomasmwilson89

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Industrial Electrician
Hey guys, we ran into this device at my work and I don't fully understand it. I've seen the claims this device makes and I just find it to be very confusing how/why it makes the claims and how exactly it works. They seem to keep alot of the information under lock and key, but here I've drawn a diagram of what the box consists of (sorry, maybe a little crude). To me it basically seems like a device to alert you when you have a phase going to ground. I understand how everything works up until the secondary side of the transformers.

-Fed with 3 phase 480
-Primary of the transformers are each being fed with 1 phase of 480V and a ground, i.e., they receive 277V at the terminals
-Secondary side of each transformer is showing 70V
- *Here's the part I don't understand*- Measuring voltage from one side of transformer 1 and the other side of transformer 3 (what connects to the resistor and light), i read 0V
- Voltage from each side of the resistor to ground is 15V, and all the other terminals on the transformers read 19V to ground.

What I would have expected is to see 210V across the resistor, as 3X 70V transformers wired like this should be additive, right?

Anyway, I guess I'm just looking for more information on these, as the 0V reading is confusing to me, and if you're familiar with the claims this thing makes, how does it make any sense? Thanks in advance!20230331_133804.jpg
 
I did for a moment think that it had something to do with the phases balancing each other out, but I guess the concept of series transformers being additive trumped that thought. This does make sense to me though, I guess I just needed to hear it.

So onto the next part... this device claims to reduce arc flash by 85% and reduce system harmonics and noise, and keep the system balanced amongst other things. Please keep in mind, this device simply comes off of a 30 amp breaker and then ties to nothing in our system/mcc.

How could it possibly do any of this? Am I completely missing something?
 
Also, Winnie... if you recall my post about tripping the 21kv substation (you had commented)... this 30 amp breaker being shut off fixed the issue. Obviously there was something missed or misinformation given by utility in order for this to be true, but this device or breaker was the issue (still haven't fully diagnosed what was grounded).
 
thomasmwilson89 said:
So onto the next part... this device claims to reduce arc flash by 85% and reduce system harmonics and noise, and keep the system balanced amongst other things. Please keep in mind, this device simply comes off of a 30 amp breaker and then ties to nothing in our system/mcc.

How could it possibly do any of this? Am I completely missing something?
Click to expand...
I'm no Engineer but I'll go with it can't........
 
I don't see how a small device connected across a 30A breaker could have much of an effect on a huge system.

I could see this device acting a bit like a grounding transformer, which might mitigate some issues on an ungrounded system. It couldn't help with a large fault but might 'bleed' some overvoltage caused by a small fault in an ungrounded system. Much like a low wattage high ohm resistor can help with static buildup on an antenna.

The device will also have low impedance to 'triplen' harmonics, and so might help reduce some triplen harmonics in the system.

But I couldn't see a small box having more than a few VA of effect.

-Jon
 
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