Current Transformer Theory of Operation

In the typical current transformer application, the primary Request a Quote

winding consists of one to a few turns of wire. The primary
wire size is much larger than the secondary wire size. The Current Transformers
number of secondary winding turns is a selected multiple Product Page
of the primary turns. Figure 1 gives a circuit schematic of a
current transformer application.

The current transformer shown represents an ideal transformer. The ideal transformer has infinite
no-load input impedance, 100% magnetic coupling between transformer windings ( hence no
leakage inductance), zero winding resistance, zero core losses, and no capacitance.
( Capacitance, leakage inductance, winding resistance, and core losses are considered to be
parasitic components. ) The output voltage is exactly proportional to the primary voltage times the
turns' ratio. There is no regulation drop. There are no losses. Since there are no parasitic
components the ideal current transformer is 100% accurate. The conservation of energy requires
that the output power equals the input power, hence Vp x Ip must equal Vs x Is. Since Vs = Vp x
Ns / Np, it can be shown that Is = Ip x Np / Ns. Is = Vs / RL, hence Ip = Ns x Vs / ( RL x Np ). With
an ideal current transformer there is no phase shift ( except 180 degrees depending on the choice
of output connections ).

The ideal transformer’s secondary resistive load consumes power equal to Is x Is x RL. This same
amount of power must be consumed at the primary terminals. The secondary load RL can be
replaced ( commonly referred to as “reflected” ) with a resistor across the primary terminals, RLr.
By applying the conservation of energy, one can show that RLr equals Np x Np x RL / (Ns x Ns),
OR RLr equals RL times the turns ratio squared (where turns ratio = Np / Ns). If Np / Ns is small,
then the RLr is very small. The primary voltage drop is Ip x RLr. A very small value for RLr means
that the current transformer presents a low insertion loss to the primary current and a low primary
voltage drop.

The reflected load impedance acts in parallel to the transformers own input impedance. The ideal
current transformer has infinite input impedance. This infinite impedance would correlate to an
infinite inductance inserted in series into the path of the primary conductor. Without the load (or
burden) the current transformer acts like an inductor and would completely block the primary
current flow. Any constant value of alternating current would, in theory, produce an infinite primary
voltage drop. In reality the current transformer’s input inductance (hence also impedance) cannot
be infinity. The current transformer has an inductance value which acts in parallel to the reflected
load. The core has losses that can be represented as a resistor in parallel with the reflected load
and the transformer’s self-inductance (no load inductance). Without the load resistor the
inductance and core loss will place an upper limit on the primary voltage, but this voltage could
still be substantial. Core saturation is also a possibility. A turns ratio step-up would result in even
higher secondary voltage. Any circuitry beyond the secondary load resistor could be subjected to
high voltage, possibly resulting in circuit damage. Because of this potential high voltage, the load
resistor should never be removed from the secondary when the current transformer is being
powered.

Figure 2A shows an equivalent circuit schematic for a current transformer with load RL. The ideal
(induced) secondary voltage is now denoted as Vsi and Vs now denotes the voltage at the
secondary terminals. Notice that the schematic contains the ideal current transformer and load as
before plus transformer mutual inductance Lm, secondary winding resistance Rs, core loss
resistor Rc, secondary leakage inductance Lks, and primary leakage inductance Lkp. Just like for
the load resistor, the other secondary circuit components can be reflected to the primary side of
the transformer. This is illustrated in Figure 2C.

The parasitic components, Rs, Lkp, and Lks, all act to lower the output voltage across RL, hence
the output voltage, Vout, will not equal the induced secondary voltage Vsi. Rs and Lks act in
series with RL and are reflected to the primary side along with Rs. Their presence presents added
impedance to the primary current hence an increase in primary voltage in proportion to the
impedance. Consequently, RL still has the same voltage drop and current flow as it did without
Lks and Rs even though Vs does not equal Vout. The phase shift associated with Lks will cause
some slight deviation from the ideal current ratio (which equals the turns ratio).

The current transformer’s self (no-load) inductance Lm and the core loss Rc shunt current away
from the reflected load and reflected parasitic components. Their impedances act in parallel to the
reflected impedances, consequently lowering the impedance seen by the primary current and the
resulting primary voltage. Less primary voltage means less output voltage and less secondary
current. Consequently Lm and Rc also cause deviation from the ideal current ratio.

As long as Rc, Lm, Lkp, Lks, and Rs are constant in value, The actual current ratio will be some
fixed ratio times the ideal (or desired) current ratio. One can compensate for the deviation from the
desired current ratio by appropriate choice of secondary turns. The number of turns will be a little
lower than that for the associated ideal turns ratio. For constant values accuracy could be 100%
except for any turn resolution limitations (full turns versus fractional turns).

Accuracy concerns arise from non-constant values for Rc, Lm, and to a lesser degree from Lkp
and Lks. These values usually vary with core induction levels; hence they vary over the range of
primary current being measured. (Air core transformers are stable but magnetic coupling is
relatively poor hence relatively large leakage inductances.) Since Rc and Lm impedances act in
parallel to the reflected load, higher Rc and Lm values have a smaller effect and consequently
increase accuracy. Cores materials with high permeability and low core loss are preferred for high
accuracy applications.

At higher frequencies winding capacitance becomes a concern. Figure 3 gives an equivalent

circuit schematic, which includes winding capacitance. Leakage inductance and winding
capacitance are actually distributed components, but are shown as lumped approximate
equivalent components. Like Lm, winding capacitances shunt current around the reflected load.
The inductances and capacitances can interact and consequently may produce spurious
oscillations. It is also possible to develop “parallel resonance”. High frequency coil designs seek to
minimize winding capacitances.
If you need assistance with your current transformer design, please contact Butler Winding and
ask for Engineering.

Butler Winding
201 Pillow Street Butler, PA 16001
Phone: 724-283-7230 | Fax: 724-283-8799

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