Overcurrent protection of transformer (NEC 450.

3)
The overcurrent protection required for transformers is consider for Protection of
Transformer only. Such overcurrent protection will not necessarily protect the primary
or secondary conductors or equipment connected on the secondary side of the
transformer.

Overcurrent protection of transformer (NEC 450.3) – photo credit:

designworldonline.com

Content
 Introduction
 Overcurrent protection of transformers >600V (NEC450.3A)
1. Unsupervised location of transformer (impedance  <6%)
2. Unsupervised location of transformer (impedance 6% to
10%)
3. Supervised location (in primary side only) of transformer
4. Supervised location of transformer (impedance up to 6%)
 5. Supervised location of transformer (impedance 6% to 10%)
6. Difference in C.B between supervised & unsupervised
Location
7. Sumary of overcurrent protection for more than 600V
 Overcurrent Protection of Transformers <600V (NEC 450.3B)
1. Only primary side protection of transformer
2. Primary and secondary side protection of transformer
3. Summary of overcurrent protection for less than 600V

Introduction
The overcurrent protection required for transformers is consider for Protection of
Transformer only. Such overcurrent protection will not necessarily protect the primary
or secondary conductors or equipment connected on the secondary side of the
transformer.

When voltage is switched on to energize a transformer, the transformer core normally

saturates.
This results in a large inrush current which is greatest during the first half cycle
(approximately 0.01 second) and becomes progressively less severe over the next
several cycles (approximately 1 second) until the transformer reaches its normal
magnetizing current. To accommodate this inrush current, fuses are often selected
which have time-current withstand values of at least 12 times transformer primary
rated current for 0.1 second and 25 times for 0.01 second. Some small dry-type
transformers may have substantially greater inrush currents.

To avoid using over sized conductors, overcurrent devices should be selected at

about 110 to 125 percent of the transformer full-load current rating. And when using
such smaller overcurrent protection, devices should be of the time-delay type (on the
primary side) to compensate for inrush currents which reach 8 to 10 times the full-load
primary current of the transformer for about 0.1 s when energized initially.

Protection of secondary conductors has to be

provided  completely separately from any primary-side
protection.
A supervised location is a location where conditions of maintenance and supervision
ensure that only qualified persons will monitor and service the transformer
installation. Overcurrent protection for a transformer on the primary side is typically a
circuit breaker. In some instances where there is not a high voltage panel, there is a
fused disconnect instead.
It is important to note that the overcurrent device on the
primary side  must be sized based on the transformer
KVA rating and not sized based on the secondary
load to the transformer.
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Overcurrent Protection of
Transformers >600V (NEC450.3A)
1) Unsupervised Location of Transformer
(Impedance <6%)

Unsupervised
Location of Transformer (Impedance <6%)

 OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Primary Voltage >600V):

 Rating of Pri. Fuse at Point A= 300% of Pri. Full Load Current or Next
higher Standard size. or
 Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker at Point A= 600% of Pri. Full Load Current or
Next higher Standard size.
  OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage
<=600V):
 Rating of Sec. Fuse / Circuit Breaker at Point B= 125% of Sec. Full Load
Current or Next higher Standard size.
 OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage
>600V):
 Rating of Sec. Fuse at Point B= 250% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next
higher Standard size. or
 Rating of Sec. Circuit Breaker at Point B= 300% of Sec. Full Load Current.
Example: 750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase Transformer having Impedance of
Transformer 5%
 Full Load Current At Primary side = 750000/(1.732X11000) = 39A
 Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X39A = 118A, So Standard Size of Fuse =
125A.
 OR Rating of Primary Circuit Breaker = 6X39A = 236A, So standard size
of CB = 250A.
 Full Load Current at Secondary side = 750000/(1.732X415)  = 1043A.
 Rating of Secondary of Fuse / Circuit Breaker = 1.25X1043A = 1304A, so
standard size of Fuse = 1600A.
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2) Unsupervised Location of Transformer

(Impedance 6% to 10%)

Unsupervised
Location of Transformer (Impedance 6% to 10%)

 OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Primary Voltage >600V):

 Rating of Pri. Fuse at Point A= 300% of Primary Full Load Current or Next
higher Standard size.
  Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker at Point A= 400% of Primary Full Load
Current or Next higher Standard size.
 OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage
<=600V):
 Rating of Sec. Fuse / Circuit Breaker at Point B= 125% of Sec. Full Load
Current or Next higher Standard size.
 OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage
>600V):
 Rating of Sec. Fuse at Point B= 225% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next
higher Standard size.
 Rating of Sec. Circuit Breaker at Point B= 250% of Sec. Full Load Current
or Next higher Standard size.
Example: 10MVA, 66KV/11KV 3Phase Transformer, Impedance of Transformer is
8%
 Full Load Current At Primary side = 10000000/(1.732X66000) = 87A
 Rating of Pri.  Fuse = 3X87A = 262A, so next standard size of Fuse =
300A.
 OR Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker = 6X87A = 525A, so next standard size
of CB = 600A.
 Full Load Current at Secondary side = 10000000/(1.732X11000) = 525A.
 Rating of Sec. Fuse = 2.25X525A = 1181A, so next standard size of fuse
= 1200A.
 OR Rating of Sec. Circuit Breaker = 2.5X525A = 1312A, so next standard
size of circuit breaker = 1600A.
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3) Supervised Location (in Primary side only)

of Transformer

Supervised Location (in

Primary side only) of Transformer
  OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Primary Voltage >600V):
 Rating of Pri. Fuse at Point A= 250% of Primary Full Load Current or Next
higher Standard size.
 Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker at Point A= 300% of Primary Full Load
Current or Next higher Standard size.
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4) Supervised Location of Transformer

(Impedance Up to 6%)

Supervised Location of
Transformer (Impedance Up to 6%)

 OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Primary Voltage >600V):

 Rating of Pri. Fuse at Point A= 300% of Pri. full load current or next lower
standard size.
 Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker at Point A= 600% of Pri. full load current or
next lower standard size.
 OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage
<=600V):
 Rating of Sec. Fuse / Circuit Breaker at Point B= 250% of Sec. Full Load
Current or Next higher Standard size.
 OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Secondary Voltage
>600V):
 Rating of Sec. Fuse at Point B= 250% of Sec. Full Load Current or Next
Lower Standard size.
 Rating of Sec. Circuit Breaker at Point B= 300% of Sec. Full Load Current
or Next Lower Standard size.
Example: 750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase Transformer having Impedance of
Transformer 5%
 Full Load Current At Primary side = 750000/(1.732X11000) = 39A
 Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X39A = 118A, so next lower standard size of
fuse = 110A.
 OR Rating of Primary Circuit Breaker = 6X39A = 236A, so next lower
standard size of Circuit Breaker = 225A.
 Full Load Current at Secondary side = 750000/(1.732X415) =1043A.
 Rating of Secondary of Fuse / Circuit Breaker = 2.5X1043A=2609A, so
standard size of Fuse = 2500A.
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5) Supervised Location of Transformer

(Impedance 6% to 10%)

Supervised Location of
Transformer (Impedance 6% to 10%)

 OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Primary Voltage >600V):

 Rating of Pri. Fuse at Point A= 300% of Pri. full load current or next lower
standard size.
 Rating of Pri. Circuit Breaker at Point A= 400% of Pri. full load current or
next lower standard size.
 Overcurrent protection at secondary side (Secondary voltage
<=600V):
 Rating of Sec. Fuse / Circuit Breaker at Point B= 250% of Sec. full load
current or next higher standard size.
 Overcurrent protection at secondary side (Secondary voltage
>600V):
 Rating of Sec. Fuse at Point B= 225% of Sec. full load current or next
lower standard size.
 Rating of Sec. Circuit Breaker at Point B= 250% of Sec. full load current
or next lower standard size.
Example: 750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase Transformer having Impedance of
Transformer 8%
 Full Load Current At Primary side = 750000/(1.732X11000) = 39A
 Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X39A = 118A, so next lower standard size of
Fuse = 110A.
 OR Rating of Primary Circuit Breaker = 4X39A = 157A, so next lower
standard size of Circuit Breaker = 150A.
 Full Load Current at Secondary side = 750000/(1.732X415) = 1043A.
 Rating of Secondary of Fuse / Circuit Breaker = 2.5X1043A=2609A, so
standard size of Fuse = 2500A.
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Difference in C.B between Supervised

& Unsupervised Location
Here we see two notable conditions while we select Fuse / Circuit Breaker in
Supervised Location and Unsupervised Location.

First notable condition is Primary Overcurrent Protection. In unsupervised location

fuse in primary side is 300% of primary current or Next Higher Standard size and in
supervised location is 300% of primary current or Next Lower Standard size. Here
primary overcurrent protection is same in both conditions (300%), but selecting size of
Fuse/Circuit Breaker is different.

Lets us Check with the Example for 750KVA, 11KV/415V 3Phase Transformer.
 Full Load Current At Primary side = 750000/(1.732X11000) = 39A
 In Unsupervised Location: Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X39A = 118A, so
next higher standard size = 125A
 In Supervised Location: Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X39A = 118A, so
next lower standard size = 110A
 Second notable condition is Secondary Overcurrent Protection increased
from 125% to 250% for unsupervised to Supervised Location.
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Summary of overcurrent Protection for more

than 600V
 Maximum Rating of Overcurrent Protection for Transformers more than 600 Volts
Location Transformer Primary Protection Secondary Protection
Limitations Rated (More than 600 Volts) More than 600V Less than
Impedance 600V
C. B. Fuse C. B. Fuse C.B or
Rating Rating Fuse
Any Less than 600%(NH) 300%(NH) 300 %( NH) 250%(NH) 125%(NH)
location 6%
6% To 10% 400%(NH) 300%(NH) 250%(NH) 225%(NH) 125%(NH)
Supervised Any 300%(NH) 250%(NH) Not Not Not
locations required required required
only Less than 600% 300% 300% 250% 250%
6%
6% To 10% 400% 300% 250% 225% 250%
NH: Next Higher Standard Size.
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Overcurrent Protection of transformers

<600V (NEC 450.3B)
1) Only Primary side Protection of
Transformer
 Only Primary side Protection
of Transformer

 OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Less than 2A):

 Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point A = 300% of Pri. full load current or next
lower standard size.
 Example: 1KVA, 480/230 3Phase transformer, full load current at Pri.
side = 1000/(1.732X480) = 1A
 Rating of Primary Fuse = 3X1A = 3A, so next lower standard size of Fuse
= 3A.
 OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (2A to 9A):
 Rating of Sec. Fuse / C.B at Point A = 167% of Pri. full load current or
next lower standard size.
 Example: 3KVA, 480/230 3Phase transformer, full load current at Pri.
side = 3000/(1.732X480) = 4A
 Rating of Primary Fuse = 1.67X4A = 6A, so next lower standard size of
Fuse = 6A.
 OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (More than 9A):
 Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point A = 125% of Pri. full load current or next
higher standard size.
 Example: 15KVA, 480/230 3Phase transformer, full load current at Pri.
side = 15000/(1.732X480) = 18A
 Rating of Primary Fuse = 1.25X18A= 23A, so next higher standard size of
Fuse = 25A.
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2) Primary and Secondary side Protection of

Transformer
 Primary and
Secondary side Protection of Transformer

 OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (Less than 2A):

 Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point A = 250% of Pri. full load current or next
lower standard size.
 OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (2A to 9A):
 Rating of Sec. Fuse / C.B at Point A= 250% of Pri. full load current or next
lower standard size.
 OverCurrent Protection at Primary Side (More than 9A):
 Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point A= 250% of Pri. Full Load Current or
Lower Higher Standard size.
 Example: 25KVA, 480/230 3Phase Transformer, Full Load Current at Pri.
Side=125000/(1.732X480)=30A
 Rating of Primary Fuse = 2.50X30A= 75A, So Next Lower Standard Size
of Fuse =70A.
 OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (Less than 9A):
 Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point B= 167% of Sec. Full Load Current or
Lower Standard size.
 Example: 3KVA, 480/230 3Phase Transformer, Full Load Current at Sec.
Side=3000/(1.732X230)=8A
 Rating of Primary Fuse = 1.67X8A= 13A, So Next Lower Standard Size of
Fuse =9A.
 OverCurrent Protection at Secondary Side (More than 9A):
 Rating of Pri. Fuse / C.B at Point A= 125% of Pri. Full Load Current or
Higher Standard size.
 Example: 15KVA, 480/230 3Phase Transformer, Full Load Current at
Sec. Side=15000/(1.732X230)=38A
 Rating of Primary Fuse = 1.25X38A= 63A, So Next Higher Standard Size
of Fuse =70A.
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Summary of overcurrent Protection for Less
than 600V
Maximum Rating of Overcurrent Protection for Transformers Less than
600 Volts
Protection Primary Protection Secondary Protection
Method More than 2A to 9A Less than More than Less than
9A 2A 9A 9A
Primary only 125%(NH) 167% 300% Not required Not
protection required
Primary and 250% 250% 250% 125%(NH) 167%
secondary
protection
NH: Next Higher Standard Size.
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