IEEE Std 3001.

5-2013
IEEE Recommended Practice for the Application of Power Distribution Apparatus in Industrial and Commercial Power
Systems

Exhausting air from the equipment location and allowing cooler (even if filtered) air to enter may cause
internal condensation and possibly create a hazardous atmosphere in the building. Alternate methods
include air conditioning, ventilation with dehumidification, higher efficiency equipment, or locating the
major heat-producing items outdoors. The amount of cooling air should be kept at the required minimum
by use of the thermally controlled equipment.

Table 1 —Range of losses in power system equipment

Percent energy lossa

Component
(full load)

Outdoor circuit breakers (15 V to 230 kV) 0.002 to 0.015

Generators 0.09 to 3.50

Medium-voltage switchgear (5 V and 15 kV) 0.005 to 0.02

Current-limiting reactors (600 V-15 kV) 0.09 to 0.30

Transformers 0.40 to 1.90

Load break switches 0.003 to 0.025

Medium-voltage starters 0.02 to 0.15

Busway (480 V and below) 0.05 to 0.50

Low-voltage switchgear 0.13 to 0.34

Motor-control centers 0.01 to 0.40

Cable 1.00 to 4.00

Motors
1 hp to 10 hp 14.00 to 35.00
10 hp to 200 hp 6.00 to 12.00
200 hp to 1500 hp 4.00 to 7.00
1500 hp and up 2.30 to 4.50

Rectifiers (large) 3.00 to 9.00

Static variable speed drivers 6.00 to 15.00

Capacitors (watts loss/var) 0.50 to 2.00

Lighting (lumens/watts) 8.00 to 9.00

NOTE—Data on capacitors and lighting systems (fixtures and controls) should be obtained from
manufacturers and considered in calculating power losses.
a
Percent energy loss is simply a ratio of power consumed internally in equipment to the total energy passed
through it.

Source: Reprinted from H. N. Hickock, “Electrical Energy Losses in Power Systems,” IEEE Transactions
on Industry Applications, vol. JA-14, no. 5, Sept./Oct. 1978.

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