Transformer Secondary Conductors

Dont let secondary rules get you wound up Find more articles about Transformers
Feb. 1, 2008 Mike Holt | Electrical Construction and Maintenance

Similar to feeder taps, covered in the last issue, transformer secondary conductors can be every bit as confusing. Let's take a closer look at 240.21 !" to help clear up any misconceptions.

Basic rules
#s $ith feeder taps, you can't use the %ne&t'si(e'up')!*+, rule provided in 240.4 -" for any transformer secondary conductor. .ormally, you can use the ne&t highest overcurrent protective device )!*+" above the ampacity of the conductors being protected, but not $ith transformer secondary conductors. /he rule is the same because the physics are the same. #s $ith feeder taps, the si(ing of that transformer secondary conductor depends on its length and application.

Scenarios
0hen $e demystified feeder taps in the previous issue, $e presented the information in an arrangement that differs from $hat you see in the .1!. 0e also described an easy $ay to pick the correct scenario from the five possible. /hat same tip applies to transformer secondary conductors, $hich also have five scenarios. Scenario 12 Secondary conductors from a feeder'tapped transformer. Scenario 22 )utside secondary conductors. Scenario 32 Secondary conductors not over 10 feet long. Scenario 42 Secondary conductors 10 to 23 feet long. Scenario 52 Secondary conductors 10 to 23 feet long, industrial installation. /o pick the right one, ans$er three easy 4uestions2 1. 2. 7. 5s the transformer outside6 !hoose Scenario 2. 5s the secondary conductor under 10 feet long or bet$een 10 and 23 feet long6 !hoose Scenario 7 or 4, but choose Scenario 3 if it's an industrial installation. 5s the transformer supplied by a feeder tap6 !hoose Scenario 1.

Scenario 1 Secondary conductors from a feeder!tapped transformer

/his one is simply a reference to 240.21 -" 7", so apply 240.21 -" 7" if you have a tap'supplied transformer.

Scenario " #utside secondary conductors

Fig$ 1 %nder certain conditions& outside secondary conductors can be of unlimited lengt'& wit'out o(ercurrent protection at t'e point t'ey recei(e t'eir supply$

)utside secondary conductors can be of unlimited length, $ithout overcurrent protection at the point they receive their supply, if they Fig$ 1"2

#re suitably protected from physical damage in a race$ay or manner approved by the authority having 8urisdiction #9:". /erminate at a single circuit breaker or a single set of fuses" that limit the load to the ampacity of the conductors. #lso2

/he )!*+ for the ungrounded conductors must be an integral part of a disconnecting means or located immediately ad8acent to it. /he disconnecting means must be located at a readily accessible location near the point of entrance of the conductors.

Scenario ) Secondary conductors not o(er 1* feet long

Fig$ "$ Depending on ampacity& secondary conductors can be installed up to 1* feet long& wit'out o(ercurrent protection at t'e point t'ey recei(e t'eir supply$

;ou can install secondary conductors up to 10 feet long, $ithout overcurrent protection at the point they receive their supply, if they have an ampacity that is not less than Fig$ ""2

/he calculated load per #rt. 220. /he rating of the device supplied by the secondary conductors or the )!*+ at the termination of the secondary conductors, and )ne'tenth the rating of the )!*+ protecting the primary of the transformer" multiplied by the primary' to'secondary transformer voltage ratio. Secondary conductors must not e&tend beyond the s$itchboard, panelboard, disconnecting means, or control devices they supply. Secondary conductors must be enclosed in a race$ay.

#lso2

)vercurrent protection is not re4uired on the secondary side of the transformer to protect the secondary conductors, but overcurrent protection is re4uired for branch'circuit panelboards. /his )!*+ must be on the secondary side of the transformer, and typically it's $ithin the panelboard. /he <*. under 240.21 !" 2" 7" refers you to 40=.7> for the overcurrent protection re4uirements for panelboards.

Scenario + Secondary conductors 1* to ", feet long

Fig$ ) Make sure you follow t'ese guidelines w'en installing secondary conductors up to ", feet long -wit'out o(ercurrent protection at t'e point t'ey recei(e t'eir supply.$

;ou can install secondary conductors up to 23 feet long, $ithout overcurrent protection at the point they receive their supply, if they Fig$ )"2

9ave an ampacity that is at least the value of the primary'to'secondary voltage ratio multiplied by one' third of the rating of the )!*+ that protects the primary of the transformer. /erminate in a single circuit breaker or set of fuses" rated no more than the secondary conductor ampacity per 710.13 ?/able 710.1>@. #re protected from physical damage by being enclosed in a manner approved by the #9: such as $ithin a race$ay".

Scenario , Taps 1* to ", feet long& industrial installation

5n an industrial application only", you can install secondary conductors up to 23 feet long, $ithout overcurrent protection at the point they receive their supply if2

/he ampacity of the secondary conductors is at least the value of the secondary current rating of the transformer.

/he sum of the ratings of the secondary )!*+s doesn't e&ceed the ampacity of the secondary conductors. /he secondary )!*+s are grouped. /he secondary conductors are protected from physical damage by being enclosed in a manner approved by the #9: such as $ithin a race$ay".

Test yourself

Fig$ +$ T'e primary o(ercurrent de(ice can protect t'e secondary conductors of a "!wire system if t'e primary de(ice does not e/ceed t'e (alue determined by multiplying t'e secondary conductor ampacity by t'e secondary!to!primary (oltage ratio$

.o$, let's see if you can put all this together to solve a practice problem. Auestion2 0hat is the minimum si(e 13'foot secondary conductor re4uired for a 2'$ire, 4=0B to 120B indoor transformer rated 1.3kB# in an office installation Fig$ +"6 -ased on those t$o easy 4uestions, you select Scenario 4. /hen, you si(e the secondary to comply $ith Scenario 4 re4uirements. /o calculate the primary )!*+ si(e, first $e need to calculate the primary current. /o do that, $e need to kno$ a couple of things2 B# C 1,300B# 1 C 4=0B .o$ $e can calculate primary current2 *rimary current C B# D 1 C 1,300B# D 4=0B C 7.17# .o$ $e can calculate primary protection. *er 430.7 -", it has to be 1>EF of the primary current. So, 7.17# G 1.>E C 3.22#. 0e can't apply the ne&t si(e up rule, so $e need a 3# )!*+. /o calculate the secondary conductor si(e2

+etermine the primary to secondary voltage ratio2 4=0B D 120B C 4. Hultiply the primary )!*+ si(e by 1I72 3 G 1I7 C 1.>E. Hultiply the t$o values together2 4 G 1.>E C >.>E#. Look in the >0J!, /able 710.1> for the smallest conductor $ith an ampacity larger than >.>E#.

#ns$er2 14#0K. 5f you $ant more practice, try changing the transformer in the e&ample above, and try different scenarios. <or e&ample, $hat if this is an industrial installation6 /hen, do the same thing but choose Scenario 3. ;ou might find it useful to spend a fe$ minutes trying different variations. /his $ill help you better understand transformer tap conductor rules. /hey aren't difficult, if you can approach them methodically and apply those that fit your installation. 5f those confusing transformer secondary rules have ever tripped your personal breaker, that's understandable. -ut no$ you can steer through those rules $ith confidence. /he ne&t time you need to

si(e secondary conductors, stop to ans$er a couple of easy 4uestions. /hen, select the correct scenario for your installation. 0ith some transformer secondary conductors, you can use the primary )!*+ to provide the overcurrent protection 8ust as you use the feeder )!*+ to protect the feeder tap conductors". -ut, there's a catch2 ;ou can do this only for t$o specific transformer configurations. /hose are2

Single'phase transformer $ith 2'$ire single voltage" secondary. 7'phase delta'delta transformer $ith 7'$ire single voltage" secondary. /he )!*+s for those transformers must be si(ed per #rt. 430. /he secondary conductors must meet the si(ing minimum re4uired by the installation type described in 240.21 !".

#nd2