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Home / Technical Articles / An example of calculating transformer size and voltage drop due to
starting of large motor

An example of calculating transformer size

and voltage drop due to starting of large
motor
Posted May 12 2014 by jiguparmar in Maintenance, Transmission and Distribution with 15
Comments

Medium-voltage motor starting transformer (man. J. Schneider Elektrotechnik; photo credit:

DirectIndustry)

Example
Lets calculate voltage drop in transformer 1000KVA, 11/0.480 kV, impedance 5.75% due to
starting of 300 kW, 460V, 0.8 power factor, motor code D (kva/hp). Motor starts 2 times per
hour and the allowable voltage drop at transformer secondary terminal is 10%.
Calculation can be checked by using this MS Excel Spreadsheet dedicated especially to this kind
of problem.
Ok, lets get into the calculations

Motor current / Torque

Motor full load current = (Kw x 1000) / (1.732 x Volt (L-L) x P.F

Motor full load current = 300 1000 / 1.732 x 460 x 0.8 = 471 Amp.

Motor locked rotor current = Multiplier x Motor full load current

Locked rotor current (Kva/Hp)

Motor Code
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N

Min
3.15
3.16
3.56
4.1
4.6
5.1
5.7
6.4
7.2
8.1
9.1
10.1
11.3

Max
3.55
4
4.5
5
5.6
6.3
7.1
8
9
10
11.2
12.5

P
R
S
T
U
V

12.6
14.1
16.1
18.1
20.1
22.5

14
16
18
20
22.4

Min. motor locked rotor current (L1) = 4.10 471 = 1930 Amp

Max. motor locked rotor current (L2) = 4.50 471 = 2118 Amp

Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = Volt x locked rotor current x Full load
current x 1.732 / 1000

Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x 2118 x 471 x 1.732 / 1000 = 1688 kVA

Transformer

Transformer full load current = kVA / (1.732 x Volt)

Transformer full load current = 1000 / (1.73 2 480) = 1203 Amp.

Short circuit current at TC secondary (Isc) = Transformer full load current /

Impedance

Short circuit current at TC secondary = 1203 / 5.75 = 20919 Amp

Maximum kVA of TC at rated Short circuit current (Q1) = (Volt x Isc x 1.732) / 1000

Maximum kVA of TC at rated Short circuit current (Q1) = 480 x 20919 x 1.732 / 1000 =
17391 kVA

Voltage drop at transformer secondary due to Motor Inrush (Vd) = (Irsm) / Q1

Voltage drop at transformer secondary due to Motor inrush (Vd) = 1688 / 17391 = 10%

Voltage drop at Transformer secondary is 10% which is within permissible limit.

Motor full load current 65% of Transformer full load current

471 Amp 65% x 1203 Amp = 471 Amp 781 Amp

Here voltage drop is within limit and Motor full load current TC full load current.
Size of Transformer is Adequate.

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February 20, 2015

Share with engineers //

Article Tags //
large motor, motor, motor current, motor full load current, motor torque, transformer size,
voltage drop,

Filed Under Category //

Maintenance Transmission and Distribution

About Author //

Jignesh Parmar
jiguparmar - Jignesh Parmar has completed his B.E(Electrical) from Gujarat University. He is
member of Institution of Engineers (MIE),India. Membership No:M-1473586.He has more than
12 years experience in Transmission -Distribution-Electrical Energy theft detection-Electrical
Maintenance-Electrical Projects (Planning-Designing-Technical Review-coordination
-Execution). He is Presently associate with one of the leading business group as a Assistant
Manager at Ahmedabad,India. He has published numbers of Technical Articles in "Electrical
Mirror", "Electrical India", "Lighting India", "Industrial Electrix"(Australian Power Publications)
Magazines. He is Freelancer Programmer of Advance Excel and design useful Excel base
Electrical Programs as per IS, NEC, IEC,IEEE codes. He is Technical Blogger and Familiar with
English, Hindi, Gujarati, French languages. He wants to Share his experience & Knowledge and

help technical enthusiasts to find suitable solutions and updating themselves on various
Engineering Topics.
RSS Feed for Comments

15 Comments

1.
bhavin mistry
Jan 28, 2015
Dear sir, i want know about maximum secondry connectable load as per transfor mer
rating
(reply)

2.
Djarot Prasetyo
Nov 15, 2014
Hi! Id like to know, what standard did you use for the locked rotor current?
Thanks!
(reply)

3.
Benn Richey
Sep 02, 2014
Theres an error in the calculations above: Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x
2118 x 471 x 1.732 / 1000 = 1688 kVA
It should be: Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x 4.5 x 471 x 1.732 / 1000 = 1688
kVA
(reply)

4.
Mujeeb Raza
Aug 28, 2014
Hi All,
I want to get this into detail, if the output of this transformer is connected to load of small
industries (assume same data), What factors are to look into while selecting cable for the
secondary of transformer up to the LV panel.
(reply)
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Environment:
Applies to Low Voltage Transformers by SquareD/Schneider Electric
Cause:
Transformers are often required to power motor loads
Resolution:
This is provided on page 39 of the Low Voltage Transformers Selection Guide, document #
7400CT9601. Please see attachment below. When selecting a Transformer to feed a motor, it is
important to note that the starting current of a motor can 6 to 7 times the full-load running
current, or even higher if it is a high efficiency motor. This initial high current can cause
excessive voltage drop because of regulation through the Transformer. Reduced voltage could
cause the motor to fail to start and remain in a stalled condition, or it could cause the starter coil
to release or ``chatter``. A typical desirable voltage drop is to allow 10-12% voltage drop at
motor start. The voltage decrease during motor starting can be estimated as follows:
Voltage Drop (%) = (Motor Locked Rotor Current / Transformer Secondary Full Load Rating) *
Transformer Impedance (%)