mproper neutral-to-case connections in transformers, can cause fire hazards, electrocution, improper operation

of protection devices, and power quality problems. Therefore, it’s important to make them only at service
equipment and in the transformer only when supplying a secondary panel.

To prevent fire, electric shock, or improper operation of circuit protection devices and other equipment is
necessary to stop objectionable current (neutral return current) from flowing on electrical equipment,
grounding paths, and bonding paths as required by the Electrical Code.

It is necessary to keep the grounded (neutral) conductor separated from the metal parts of equipment, except as
required for service equipment and on transformers.

Making the proper neutral-to-case connections is the key.

Consequences of improper neutral-to-case transformer grounding connections.

There are several consequences of improper neutral-to-case connections that range in severity from problems
with equipment to the death of an employee.

If a neutral-to-case bond is made at both the transformer and at the secondary panelboard, neutral current will
flow through metal raceways (and on the grounding and bonding path) on its return to the power supply.
When a consumer’s service is supplied by an alternating-current system that is required to be grounded, the
system shall be connected to a grounding conductor at the transformer or other source of supply.

The system has to be connected to a grounding conductor at each individual service, with the connection made
on the supply side of the service disconnecting means either in the service box or in other service equipment.

It is very important that there is no connection between the grounded circuit conductor (Neutral), on the load
side of the service disconnecting means (Service Equipment) and the grounding electrode.

The Electrical Code Rules also permits the use of a system neutral (Transformer Grounding Conductor),
derived from a grounding transformer, to ground high voltage systems.

In this case it permits the use of a wye connected transformer to establish a neutral grounded point.

If the secondary of a supply transformer is ungrounded, such as a delta-connected system is directly connected
to a grounding transformer, which establishes a neutral grounded system through the grounding transformer.

Grounding of Neutral Grounding Devices (Impedance Grounding).

Where neutral grounding devices are used, warning signs indicating that the system is impedance grounded
and the maximum voltage at which the neutral may be operating relative to ground shall be placed at the
transformer.

The following are examples of “grounded alternating current systems” commonly used in:

(a) single-phase, 3-wire solidly grounded systems ;

(b) three-phase, 4-wire solidly grounded systems ;

(c) three-phase, 4-wire impedance grounded system.

(a) Single-phase, 3-wire solidly grounded system (midpoint grounded)

In this case the neutral and bonding conductor functions are combined in a single conductor (system grounded
conductor) on the line side of the service. But the Neutral (grounded circuit conductor) and bonding conductor
function are separate on the load side of the service

(b) Three-phase, 4-wire solidly grounded system (midpoint grounded)

In this case the Neutral and bonding conductor functions are combined in a single conductor (system grounded
conductor) on the line side of the service. The Neutral (grounded circuit conductor) and bonding conductor
function are separate on the load side of the service.

(c) Three-phase, 4-wire solidly grounded system with no neutral load (3-wire on load side) (midpoint
grounded)

The grounded conductor on the load side of the service functions as a bonding conductor with no distributed
neutral throughout the system.

The grounded conductor on the line side of the service (system grounded conductor) with no neutral currents is
sized as specified for bonding conductor.

(d) Three-phase, 4-wire impedance grounded system (midpoint grounded)

The system connected to ground via sufficiently high impedance and the neutral may or may not be
distributed.

(e) Different three-phase, 4-wire solidly grounded systems at a facility (midpoint grounded)

There may be one or more different systems installed at a facility in addition to the system that supplies it (e.g.,
a generator to supply emergency power, or a transformer to supply a different voltage, to parts of a facility).
When these different systems are required to be grounded, each newly established (different) system will be
connected to a grounding electrode either at the facility’s service, or at a separate grounding electrode. When
separate grounding electrodes are installed, they will be interconnected in accordance with the code.

In addition to the main solidly grounded system that supplies the facility, two different solidly grounded
systems are established at the secondary of each stepdown transformer. A neutral of each transformer is
bonded to the transformer enclosure and connected to the grounding electrode of the system.
What is an electrostatic shield?
The electrostatic shield is simply a grounded single turn of conductive nonferrous foil placed between coils to divert
primary noise to ground.The conductive foil completely enclosing the windings will provide a ground path for primary
circuit noise and has the advantage that a very much smaller capacitance exists between primary and secondary
coils than in the case of a simple Faraday shield. The enclosing shield will not re-radiate the noise signal, and will
provide effective electromagnetic noise reduction. Typically, according to Topaz at a distance of 18 inches from a
transformer's geometric center, the field strength will be less than 0.1 gauss, and will roughly follow inverse cube
laws.

Isolation transformers with electrostatic shields are used for power supplies for sensitive equipment such as
computers or laboratory instruments. An isolation transformer is designed to address the problems associated with
referencing its internal shields to ground. It is constructed with two isolated Faraday shields between the primary and
secondary windings. The shield, which is closest to the primary winding, is connected to the common power supply
ground and the shield closest to the secondary winding is connected to the shield of the circuit to be isolated. The use
of two shields in the construction of the isolation transformer diverts high frequency noise, which would normally be
coupled across the transformer to the grounds of the circuit in which they occur. The two shields provide more
effective isolation of the primary and secondary circuits by also isolating their grounds.
The isolation transformer adds a third capacitance between the two Faraday shields, which may allow coupling of
high frequency noise between the system grounds. However, increasing the separation between the two Faraday
shields normally minimizes this third capacitance. Additionally, the dielectric effect of the shields plus the increased
separation of the windings significantly reduce the inter-capacitance between the windings.
Since inter-winding capacitance is the primary path by which significant power line and transient related noise
couples to the system, more information is needed to describe what occurs. During the time power is being
transferred between transformer windings, noise potentials between the primary circuits and ground is similarly
coupled to the secondary through both capacitive and resistive paths. This noise appears in three forms normally in a
transformer circuit: common-mode, transverse mode, and electromagnetic