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Application Note - Burden
Application Note - Burden
Burden is the load imposed on the secondary of the CT at rated current and is measured in VA
(product of volts and amps). The accuracy class applies only to loads at rated VA and below, down
to one quarter VA .The burden on the secondary of a CT includes the effect of pilot leads, connections
etc , as well as the instrument burden itself.
In situations where the meter is remote from the current transformer, the resistance of the pilot
wires may exceed the meter impedance many times in these cases it is often economical to use
1 amp meters and CTs.
25
1.0
2
0m
1.
20
0.8
2
mm
1.5
15
0.6
10
0.4
2
4mm
m
2.5
6mm
0.2
LEAD BURDEN VA ON 1A CT
LEAD BURDEN VA ON 5A CT
The diagram shows the burden imposed on the CT due to a run of pilot wire. It will be seen that a pilot
loop of 2.5mm2 wire, 60 metres long (30 metres distance) has a load of 12.5 VA on a 5 amp CT but
only 0.5VA on a 1 amp CT.
10mm2
10
20
30
40
50
60 Metres
April 2012