THREE PHASE PADMOUNTED

TRANSFORMER TRAINING
www.lipower.org

What We Will Cover

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 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

Inside a Three-Phase Pad Mounted 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

What are its Applications?

Typical for Large Load, NonResidential 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

Who Wires the Three-Phase Pad Mounted

Transformer?
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

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

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

Protection From Traffic

Specification Package Details

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
Jacket 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

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
www.lipower.org

QUESTIONS