Transformer Rating!

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Eduardo Maun

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Hello...

I got a 500A breaker on each phase of the transformer, the current drawn from each phase is Ia=275, Ib=260, and Ic= 250 amperes, my question is can I still add more load to the transformer? what is the maximum load I can add? Can you show me the computation?

Thank you and God Bless
 
Eduardo Maun said:
Hello...

I got a 500A breaker on each phase of the transformer, the current drawn from each phase is Ia=275, Ib=260, and Ic= 250 amperes, my question is can I still add more load to the transformer? what is the maximum load I can add? Can you show me the computation?

Thank you and God Bless
The answer to your question depends on many things not just the size of the breaker. What size transformer do you have? (112.5 kva, etc). What are the primary and secondary voltages? Also what size wires are on the primary and secondary sides? Don't want to add load and burn up your wires. Is the 500A breaker on the primary or secondary side of the transformer and is there overcurrent protection on the other side?

Also, how did you get your load measurements? If this is just a instantaneous reading at one point in time, you can't trust it. You need to know the average and peak loads over a long enough period of time. Alternately, you could look at everything connected to the transformer and figure out what the maximum load could be?
 
I am curious about your description of a 500 amp breaker on each phase. Do you mean a single breaker with three poles, or do you mean three separate breakers?

Eduardo Maun said:
Can you show me the computation?
I could, but I'm not sure I can get you to understand it well enough to be able to do it correctly.

May I ask what is the nature of the project and what is your role?
 
Additional Information

Additional Information

Thank you for immediately response I really appreciate it. The rating of the transformer is 315 KVA, The primary and the secondary voltages are 11 KV and 460 volt respectively. The wire size is 300 mm2 and 90 mm2. The 500A is in the secondary side, I measured the current thru lamp meter yes Sir it just a reading in one point in time. Where not able to get the maximum load, the breaker are connected to each line for L1 = 500A breaker, L2 = 500A and L3 = 500A. I?m an Electrical Engineering graduate but I'm not able to use it for a couple of years now because my previous job is in building maintenance right now I"m in Architectural and Engineering Department. a lot design and estimate are involve. The project use for expansion of new building.


I hope this data are enough for you to figure out the answer and I'm sure you can let me know if you need additional information.

God Bless...

Best regards,

Eduardo
 
@ 480v 3ph your 315kva xfrmr will give you about 375amps + or - so sizing things @ 500amps is about right (375x1.25), I'm not familiar with the wire size you mentioned but I think the overcurrent protection is about right.
 
Something is not quite right here. At 460 volts, the rated secondary current is 395 amps. As “Bob on the left coast” said, that works with a 500 amp breaker. But a 300 mm2 wire is roughly equivalent to 600 MCM (from Table 8 ), and is only good for 420 amps (from Table 310.16). The next higher standard size overcurrent device is 450 amps, not 500 amps. So it appears to me that the breakers need to be replaced (or have their trip rating adjusted down, if they are of the adjustable type). The other alternative (not a pleasant one) would be to replace the cables. Or perhaps we don’t have the entire picture correct, and would need more information.

A 90 mm2 wire is roughly equivalent to a 3/0, and is good for 200 amps. At 11kV, a 315 KVA transformer has a primary current rating of 16 amps. So a 90 mm2 wire is a bit of overkill.

As to adding more load, you can’t move on that until you know what load you have. There are three ways to find that out. One is to make a list of each and every electrical component in the building, and include the VA drawn by each. Another is to attach a meter at one or more key locations, and measure the load over 30 days. Another is to get one year’s worth of peak load information from the serving utility. Unless and until you get this information, you cannot add any significant load to an existing facility.
 
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