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THREE PHASE PADMOUNTED
TRANSFORMER TRAINING
What is a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer?
What are its Applications?
How is it Installed?
How is it Wired?
The Specification Package
The Specification Letter
Miscellaneous
What We Will Cover
What is a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer?

Outside

Metal Encased, Tank, Fins, Cabinet
Sits on a Three Piece Vault
Fragile Enclosure, Not for Storage

Inside Contains

Oil Tank, Windings, Terminals

Primary and Secondary Compartments

Grounding Loop

Cables and Terminations
What is a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer?

Steps Down Primary Voltage to Secondary

Primary Side (4kV, 13kV, or both)

Secondary Side (120/208v, 277/480v)

Three Phase Wye Configuration Only

Pad Mounted, or Submersible

Di-Electric Fluid (insulates and cools)

LIPA Sizes Range From:

75KVA to 1000KVA for 120/208

75KVA to 1500KVA for 277/480

Special Order 2500KVAs
The outside of a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Side View of a 150KVA Pad Mounted Transformer
The Outside of a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer

Orientation Away From Building

Clearances

5 From Transformer to Building Wall

10 to Vent Openings, Doors, Windows

25 to Non-Fire-Rated Openings

Auditorium Exits

Truck Accessible (delivery & removal purposes)

NEC Class 1, Division 1, and 2 Locations Shall Require a
Minimum 25 ft. Clearance (oil, gas, etc)

Set Vault Level, Grade to Slope Away

Traffic Protection
The Inside of a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Inside a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Primary Compartment
(left side)

Primary Connections
(radial, or loop)

Incoming - H1C, H1A,
H1B

Outgoing - H2B, H2A,
H2C

No Load Tap Changer

A Through E (2.5%
increments, middle
is zero boost)

Bayonet Fuses, Protect
Primary Side of
Transformer
Primary Compartment

Load Break Elbows

Sizes: #2, 1/0, 3/0

Lightning Arrestor
Elbows (radials, and
open points)

Static Drain Wires
(#14, and #10 Cu.)

Grounding Loop
#2BTN, One HLC

Primary Bushings

Standoff Bushing
Slots (open point)
Inside a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Primary L/B Elbow

Load Break Elbow, Bushing,
Static Drain Wire, and Primary
Cable

Detail in Spec. Package

Follow Mfg. Instructions

Pulling Eye

Test Point, & Cap

5 of Taped Neutral

#2 EPR Insulated May be
Hylinked

Sealing Strip, 36 Below Hose
Clamp
Inside a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Primary Bushing

Supplied by LIPA with
L/B, L/A Elbow

Screws in

Must be Kept Clean,
Contamination Will
Cause Electrical
Failure

#14 Static Drain Wire
From Eyelet to
Grounding Split Bolt

L/B Elbow Should
Cover Yellow (now
RED) Band
Inside a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Secondary Compartment
(right side)

Secondary Spades;
X0, X1, X2, X3

Nema 2 Hole Lugs
(tinned alum. Or Cu.)

Al Lug - Extra
Belleville Washer Req

Oxide Inhibitor on Al

Cu to be Tinned, or
Alloy plated

750 Cu now Accepted

Buss Supports
Inside a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Secondary
Compartment

Color Coding

120/208v or
277/480v

Integrated/Isolat
ed

8 Sets Max

Grounding Pads,
Loop, Split Bolts,
Ground Rods

Oil Drain Valve
Inside a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Secondary
Compartment
Pressure
Relief Valve
Do Not Pull
Oil Fill Level
Oil
Temperature
Gauge
Oil Level
Gauge
Inside a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Nameplate

Identifies Primary and
Secondary Voltage

Indicates Voltage on
Different Tap Settings

Shows Internal Coil
Configuration

Indicates Transformer
Weight

Indicates Transformer
Impedance
Inside a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Common equipment

Primary Cable

Sizes: 3-2/c#2, 1/0, 3/0

Secondary Cable

Sizes: Minimum #2, Maximum 750

Maintain 5 min. Slack in Vault

Maintain as Much Physical Separation as Possible

Grounding Pads, Lugs, and Split Bolts

Bare #6 Cu to Ground Rods

Bare Tinned Copper #2 for Ground Loop
Inside a Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
What are its Applications?

Typical for Large Load, Non-
Residential Customers; Long
Distance From Existing
Facilities; and Looped
Commercial Industrial Parks

Pad Mounted Transformers are
LIPAs Standard Installation,
Non-Standard is Submersible, or
Network

Transformer is Delivered,
Owned, and Maintained by LIPA
for Secondary Metered Service
How is the Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Installed?

Set on a Three Piece Vault, Always Provided
by Contractor (see approved vendor list)

Pad Orientation

Primary Side, Secondary Side

Doors to Face Away From Building

10 Clear in Front of Pad for Switching

Grade Away 1% Slope

Old Way Poured Foundation (slab)
Primary and Secondary Cables Have no
Slack

Boom Truck Delivers Transformer, Lifts it
onto Vault

How is the Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformer
Installed?
Boom Truck

Can Deliver All
Transformers
Line Truck

Delivers up to
500 kVA
Who Wires the Three-Phase Pad Mounted
Transformer?
LIPA Provides

Three Load Break Elbows (rated for 200
ampere)

Three Lightning Arrestor Elbows

With Three NEMA 2-Hole Lugs

One Hot Line Clamp

Bushings Come as a Pair With L/B Elbow and
L/A Arrestor Elbow
Radial Installation

Contractor Installs Primary and Secondary Cable

Contractor Wires L/B and L/A Elbows

Contractor Makes Secondary Connections

Contractor Wires All Grounding

Contractor Supplies Secondary Lugs, Static Drain
Wires, Ground Rods, Ground Wire, and Grounding
Split Bolts
CIPUD Installation

Contractor Supplies and Wires Secondary

LIPA Wires Primary & Grounding
Who Wires the Three-Phase Pad Mounted
Transformer?
Specification Package Details

Provides Information Common to All Jobs

Pad Specifications, Vault Details

Primary Side, Secondary Side

Contractor to Discuss Location Before Pad is Set

Knock Outs: 4 PVC Sleeve Flush With Wall, Concreted in Place

Duct Seal or Cap Unused Conduits

Galvanized Conduits Require Bonding

Protection From Traffic

Bollard 3.5 Heavy Steel Wall (minimum)

Concrete Filled

Must be Painted Yellow

Doors Must be Able to Open

Required on All Sides Subject to Vehicular Traffic
Primary Cables

Phases Must be Identified (1, 2, 3 rings), on Both
Extremities

15kV Tree-Retardant Cross-Linked Polyethylene for
Aluminum (TR-XLPE)

Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR) for Copper

Semi-Con 12 Mil

Insulation 220 Mil, Insulation Shield 30 Mil Semi-Con

J acket 50 Mil Semi-Con
Specification Package Details
Secondary Services

480v - One Service

Exception: Fire Pumps

208v - Multiple Services

Services Must be Labeled
Cables

480v (must be installed in conduit)

USE-2, XHHW-2, or RHW-2

8 Sets Max

208v

USE-2, THW-2, THWN-2, XHHW-2, or RHW-2*

*With neoprene or hypalon jacket only
Specification Package Details
Three-Phase Specification Letter

Gives Project Specific Details, Such as:

Reiterates Customer Load Letter

Designated Riser Pole, or Point of Termination

Describes Cable Ownership

Provides Costs, if Any

Inrush Information, Motor Starting Limitations

Restates Basic Installation Rules,

Call Before You Dig

Repeats Primary and Secondary Cable
Specifications
Miscellaneous

Provide Advance Notification of Projects

Access to an Energized Vault is Forbidden

Industrial Code Rules 753, and 57

These Requirements Conform to the NEC

Contractor to Comply With:

Applicable Codes

Three Phase Transformer Spec. Package

Redbook

Lists Distribution Design Representatives

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