brhodes
Electrical
- May 2, 2006
- 10
A Lineman approached me today asking my opinion on something. We have an open wye/open delta connected transformer bank and I have a few of questions.
1)Should the primary neutral point float or be grounded and why?
I understood that if the connection is a wye-delta the primary neutral point should float, but never understood completely why.
2)The secondary voltage is 480V with no neutral coming into the service. Inside the building what would the phase to ground voltage be?
To my knowledge it's variable and unpredictable.
The electrician is concerned before connecting his load. He only has 3-phase 480 volt load with the exception of one single-phase dry type transformer (480 to 120).
Here are the voltages the lineman had given me that he read.
~503 volts phase to phase (Our voltage runs a little high), which is okay and works fine for his load.
A-phase to Gnd: 640V
B-Phase to Gnd: 504V
C-Phase to Gnd: 280V
3)Are these numbers common for an ungrounded secondary or floating neutral at the transformer? Would having no reference point at the transformer bank cause these phase to ground voltage readings?
I am going to the site tomorrow. I will verify the primary and secondary connections and see if the primary neutral is floating or not.
With his load being only 3-phase 480 volt and a 480 to 120 volt dry-type transformer, my thoughts would be that he is okay. I would like to have more opinions on it since the phase to ground voltage readings is unusual.
Any help you guys can give would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
1)Should the primary neutral point float or be grounded and why?
I understood that if the connection is a wye-delta the primary neutral point should float, but never understood completely why.
2)The secondary voltage is 480V with no neutral coming into the service. Inside the building what would the phase to ground voltage be?
To my knowledge it's variable and unpredictable.
The electrician is concerned before connecting his load. He only has 3-phase 480 volt load with the exception of one single-phase dry type transformer (480 to 120).
Here are the voltages the lineman had given me that he read.
~503 volts phase to phase (Our voltage runs a little high), which is okay and works fine for his load.
A-phase to Gnd: 640V
B-Phase to Gnd: 504V
C-Phase to Gnd: 280V
3)Are these numbers common for an ungrounded secondary or floating neutral at the transformer? Would having no reference point at the transformer bank cause these phase to ground voltage readings?
I am going to the site tomorrow. I will verify the primary and secondary connections and see if the primary neutral is floating or not.
With his load being only 3-phase 480 volt and a 480 to 120 volt dry-type transformer, my thoughts would be that he is okay. I would like to have more opinions on it since the phase to ground voltage readings is unusual.
Any help you guys can give would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!