Vector Diagrams for Linemen

How to quickly draw voltage vector diagrams and correctly wire up transformer banks.

First Edition

Vector Diagrams for Linemen

Transformer Terms Used in Vector Diagrams

Primary Bushings
The primary voltage (also called input voltage or source voltage) connects to the bushings on the top of a transformer. Primary bushings are designated H1 and H2. The H1 bushing is always the left bushing when the transformer is viewed from the front.

Secondary Bushings
The secondary voltages (also called load-side voltages or delivery voltages) appear on bushings on the side of the transformer. These bushings are designated as X1, X2, and X3 and X4 if there are four secondary bushings.

H1

H2
Primary bushings

Secondary bushings

X3

X2

X1

Figure 2. Transformer primary and secondary bushings.

Transformer Polarity
Transformers have either additive or subtractive polarity. The polarity of a transformer depends on whether the secondary coil is wound around the core in the same direction as the primary coil, or in the opposite direction. The practice followed by most transformer manufacturers is: Small transformers (below 200 kVA or primary voltage below 8600 volts) are additive; large transformers are subtractive.

Vector Diagrams for Linemen

Nameplate Data
When drawing vector diagrams, you need to get this information from the transformer nameplate: Rating of the primary, or high voltage winding of the transformer. Rating of the secondary, or low voltage winding of the transformer. Polarity of the transformer.
1 2
H V L V

7200 / 12470Y 120/240 CP123456790 5

CUST I.D.
K V A S E R
NON-PCB MINERAL OIL W H E N M A N U FA C T U R E D C O N TA I N E D LESS THAN 1PPM PCB

M F G

HV AL 95 BIL TK 10 60 HZ A D D P O L . LV AL 95 BIL MS CLASS OA 65 C RISE

C A T
NOTES:

CP 000000556
E

1.8 %IZ
85 C

READ INSTALLATION AND OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS S201-10-1

211072 05W5
H1
SW

GAL 11 W T 2 0 2 L B MFG DATE AUG 98

H2

H V TA P 100% 97.5% 95% 92.5% 90%

POSITION 1 OR A 2 OR B 3 OR C 4 OR D 5 OR E

x3

x2

IA

B D

4 x1

x1 x3

x2

(1) HV - Rating of the high-voltage (primary) winding. The low number (7200) is the voltage this transformer needs to have applied at its primary bushings as input, to produce the rated secondary voltage (120/240 volts) as output. 7200 is the voltage required by this transformer. On nameplates for padmount transformers and singlebushing overhead transformers, the low number appears last instead of first. The high number (12470Y) is the voltage which needs to be applied between primary transformer coils, when this transformer is used in a wye-connected bank. Note: When 12470 is divided by 1.73, the result is 7200.
12,470 V

7200 V

120 V

120 V

240 V

720 120

0V

V V

240

120

(2) LV - Rating of the low-voltage (secondary) winding. This transformer delivers 120 and 240 volts. (3) POL - This transformer has additive polarity. (4) This secondary schematic shows the two secondary coils wired in parallel. This configuration provides only 120 volts and not 240 volts, but it delivers twice as much current, compared with the other secondary schematic. Here, the secondary coils are connected to X1 and X2, and X3 is abandoned. Some utilities connect the secondary coils to X1 and X3, and abandon X2.
Figure 5. Transformer nameplate data.

Rules for Labeling Vector Diagrams

Four Rules for Labeling Vector Diagrams

Four simple, intuitive rules govern the labeling of vector diagrams. Follow these rules throughout all diagrams. Youll always understand your vector drawings, and everybody else will understand them too.

Rule 1: Left to right.

Assign numbers and letters left to right just like the way we read a book. Label phase conductors, left to right. Label transformers on a pole, left to right. Everything is left to right.

Rule 2: Clockwise.
Assign labels to delta or wye diagrams, clockwise the same direction the hands of a clock move. Add arrowheads to delta vectors, pointing clockwise. Current flows clockwise. Current always seeks ground, so in wye diagrams, add arrowheads to the vectors pointing to the center of the diagram.

Rule 3: A B C.
Place letters in alphabetic order. Label conductors on poles and crossarms in alphabetic order. Electricity is generated in three phases: A B C. This sequence repeats over and over: ABCABCABCA...

Rule 4: 1 2 3.
Place numbers in vector drawings in numeric sequence: 1 2 3. Rule 3 and Rule 4 work together. For example, phase A goes with transformer 1. Phase B goes with transformer 2. Phase C goes with transformer 3.

Five Steps for Drawing Vector Diagrams

Follow these five steps when drawing vector diagrams: Step 1: Determine if the circuit is wye or delta. Step 2: Draw a wye (or a delta) on the vector diagram circle. Step 3: Show the direction of current flow clockwise for delta, to ground for wye. Step 4: Add the transformer labels T1, T2, T3. Step 5: Label the bushings.

Vector Diagrams for Linemen

Drawing Primary Vector Diagrams

Step 1. Determine if the Primary Circuit is a Delta or a Wye.
To determine if the primary is a delta or wye circuit: 1. Using a voltmeter, measure the line-to-line (phase-to-phase) primary (supply) voltage. 2. Check the transformer nameplate for its high-voltage (HV) rating. Then: If the line-to-line (phase-to-phase) voltage is the same as the low number on the nameplate, the primary is a delta circuit. Same = Delta. If the line-to-line (phase-to-phase) voltage is different from the low number on the nameplate, or is the same as the high number on the nameplate, the primary is a wye circuit. Different = Wye.

Table 1 has examples of common line-to-line and nameplate voltages, and the type circuit for each combination.
Line-to-Line Voltage 2,400 4,160 7,200 Nameplate High Voltage 2,400 or 2,400/4160Y 4,160 or 4,160/7200Y 7,200 or 7,200/12470Y Circuit Delta Delta Delta

Line voltage = the low number voltage on the nameplate, so... Delta

12,000 12,000 Delta Line voltage the low number voltage on the nameplate, so... Wye 4,160 7,200 12,470 24,940 34,500 2,400 or 2400/4,160Y 4,160 or 4160/7,200Y 7,200 or 7200/12470Y 14,400 or 14400/24940Y 19,900 or 19900/34500Y Wye Wye Wye Wye Wye

Table 1. Compare voltages to determine the type primary circuit.

To draw a primary voltage vector diagram, first draw a circle. Add dots on the circle where hours of a clock would be, and a dot in the center of the circle. This represents Step 1 in both delta and wye vector diagrams. See Figure 6.

Figure 6. The vector diagram circle.

Drawibng Primary Vector Diagrams

Drawing the Vector Diagram for a Delta Primary

Step 2. Draw a triangle.
B

Step 3. Show direction.

B

If the primary is a delta circuit, draw a delta (triangle) on the circle, from 8 oclock, to 12 oclock, to 4 oclock, back to 8 oclock. Label the corners A, B, and C. Step 4. Label transformers.
B

Add arrowheads to show a clockwise direction of flow.

Step 5. Label bushings.

B H2 H1

T1 T3

T2
H1 A

T1 T3 H2

T2 H2 H1 C

Label the vectors with T1, T2, and T3, clockwise.

Label the bushings, H1 and H2, on all three vectors, in clockwise direction. This completes the vector diagram for the primary side of a threephase delta bank.

Figure 7. Drawing a delta vector diagram.

To see the physical connections to the transformers, label the overhead conductors A, B, C, left to right. Connect each line to a transformer bushing, as indicated on the vector diagram. See Figure 8.

Whats our vector, Victor?

one of the many memorable lines from the movie Airplane!

Vector Diagrams for Linemen

A B N C

H1

H2 H1 H2

H1

H2

Figure 8. Physical connections for a delta primary.

A B N C

H1

H2 H1 H2

H1

H2

Figure 9. Physical connections for a wye primary.

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Drawibng Complete Vector and Physical Diagrams

Delta-Delta
Measured Line-to-Line Voltage
B H2 H1

4,160 _______________volts

A B N C

T1

T2

H1 A H2

T3

H2 H1 C

Primary Vector Diagram Transformer Nameplate Polarity: Primary volts:

H1 X3

H2 H1 H2

H1

H2 X1

X2 X1 T1 +

Additive ______________ 4,160 / 7,200Y ______________

X3 X2 X1 T2 +

X3 X2 T3 +

120/240 Secondary volts: ______________

b X3 X1 a b X2 T1 T2 X2 c n X1 a X3 T3 X2 X3 X1 c

Customer Needs Voltage 1, 2, or 3 phase(s) Measured

Secondary Vector Diagram

240

a to b, b to c, c to a

Figure 12. Delta-delta vector diagrams and the physical configuration.

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Vector Diagrams for Linemen

Example: Wye Primary, Wye Secondary

Measured primary voltage: 12,460 volts, line to line. From the transformer nameplate: HV 7200/12460Y LV 120/240 POL ADD Customer needs: 120 volts, 3 phase; 208 volts, 3 phase. Draw the primary vector diagram. Step 1. The primary voltage (12,460 volts) is different from the first HV voltage (7200) on the nameplate. The primary is a wye circuit. Step 2 . Draw a wye. Step 3. Add arrowheads to show direction to ground (to the center). Step 4. Label each vector with its transformer (T1, T2, T3). Step 5. Label the primary bushings (H1, H2). Step 6. On the physical drawing, label the primary conductors (A, B, C), and label the primary bushings on the transformers (H1, H2). Then copy the notation on the vector diagram to the physical configuration. Draw the secondary vector diagram. Step 1. The customer-needs voltage (120 volts and 208 volts) are different from the LV (120/240) on the nameplate. The secondary circuit is a wye. Step 2. Draw a wye. Make the secondary vectors parallel with the corresponding primary vectors. Step 3. Add arrowheads to show direction. Make the secondary vectors point in the same direction as the primary vectors. Step 4. Label each vector with its transformer. Step 5. Label each vector with secondary bushings (X1, X2, X3). Step 6. On the physical drawing, label the transformers (T1, T2, T3), mark a + on each transformer to indicate its an additive transformer, and number the secondary bushings right-to-left because these are additive transformers. Then copy the vector notation to the physical diagram. Note: To deliver 120 volts from the X1 and X3 terminals, inside the transformer, wire the two coils in parallel. See Figure 13. The length of a vector is proportional to a voltage. For this secondary vector diagram, the distance between X1 and X3 on each transformer represents 120 volts. The distance between X1 on one transformer and X1 on any other transformer represents 208 volts. In this vector diagram, the voltage from a or b or c to ground is 120 volts. And the voltage from a to b, or a to c, or b to c is 208 volts.

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Wye-Wye

Use 2 and 4
+ + +

A B C N

Wye-Wye

Use 2 and 4

A B C N

Secondary services 277 volts, phase-to-neutral 480 volts, phase-to-phase or 347 volts, phase-to-neutral 600 volts, phase-to-phase

a b c n

Secondary services 277 volts, phase-to-neutral 480 volts, phase-to-phase or 347 volts, phase-to-neutral 600 volts, phase-to-phase

a b c n

Delta-Wye

A B C

Delta-Wye

A B C

Use 1 and 4
Secondary services 120 volts, phase-to-neutral 208 volts, phase-to-phase or 277 volts, phase-to-neutral 480 volts phase-to-phase
+ + +

Use 1 and 4
Secondary services 120 volts, phase-to-neutral 208 volts, phase-to-phase or 277 volts, phase-to-neutral 480 volts phase-to-phase

a b c n

a b c n

Wye-Delta

A B C

Wye-Delta

Use 2 and 3
Secondary services 240 volts, phase-to-phase 120 volts, b-to-neutral, c-to-neutral 208 volts, a-to-neutral
+ + +

A B C N

Use 2 and 3
+ + +

-a -b -c n

Secondary services 480 volts, phase-to-phase

-a -b -c

Open Wye - Open Delta

A B C N

Open Wye - Open Delta

A B C N

Use 2 and 3

Use 2 and 3
-a -b -c n

Secondary services 480 volts, phase-to-phase

Secondary services 120 volts, a-to-neutral, b-to-neutral 240 volts, a-to-b, b-to-c, a-to-c 208 volts, c-to-neutral

-a -b -c n

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