what cable for 5000 Amps

Status
Not open for further replies.
petersonra

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
I got a sketch via email the other day that appears to show a 13.2kv/480V xfmr with a single 4 wire cable coming off the secondary. As best I can tell, the secondary current of the transformer needs to be in the 5000A range.

I can't imagine anyone makes a cable with conductors that large. can you even get a single conductor that big? I wonder what they are really up to.
 
No single cable will suffice. A set of 13 (per phase) 500 MCM conductors might get you there. However, depending on what is immediately downstream of the transformer, and how far away it is, and what the path looks like between the two, your best option is likely to be bus bars. And if the transformer and the downstream switchboard/switchgear are from the same manufacturer, they will likely have a coupling method designed for just such a situation.
 
charlie b said:
No single cable will suffice. A set of 13 (per phase) 500 MCM conductors might get you there. However, depending on what is immediately downstream of the transformer, and how far away it is, and what the path looks like between the two, your best option is likely to be bus bars. And if the transformer and the downstream switchboard/switchgear are from the same manufacturer, they will likely have a coupling method designed for just such a situation.
Click to expand...
Oddly, they show no switchgear downstream. I do not know if it is missing from the sketch or they don't plan to have any, or what. It is a very peculiar design.

It is not my problem.

I wonder how they plan to get this sketch past the AHJ.

They do not show any upstream or downstream OCPD on the transformer, or any GF protection for feeder coming out of it.

I don't know if the diagram is incomplete or what.

It seems odd to me that for this scale of a power system that there would not be real drawings with a PE seal on them, or at least real drawings.
 
Last edited:
petersonra said:
I got a sketch via email the other day that appears to show a 13.2kv/480V xfmr with a single 4 wire cable coming off the secondary. As best I can tell, the secondary current of the transformer needs to be in the 5000A range.

I can't imagine anyone makes a cable with conductors that large. can you even get a single conductor that big? I wonder what they are really up to.
Click to expand...

Usually that would be bussed.
 
zog said:
Usually that would be bussed.
Click to expand...
That would be the case here also.
I was looking at a project a little while ago for a possible 690V, 2500kW VSD.
At about 2.6kA, the cost of cabling it would have been prohibitive.
The project, if it does go ahead, will be a medium voltage solution - or a different drive type.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top