Current Transformer Testing

Current Transformer Testing will cover following tests:

a) IR Measurement.
b) CT ratio check.
c) CT polarity check.
d) CT winding resistance and lead resistance measurement.
e) CT excitation test for metering, protection and PS class CT.
f) Secondary injection testing of metering and protection core including unit
protection schemes.
g) Combined primary and secondary injection testing of metering and
protection cores up to rated current.

A) IR Measurement

Outline of Procedure

1. Disconnect CT secondary wiring.

2. Disconnect earthing of all cores.
3. Note IR values for
• Primary to earth
• Primary to Secondary
• Secondary to earth
• Core 1 to Core 2 for multi core CT.

a) Primary to earth IR measurement

1. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 1
2. Note IR readings at 5kV.
3. The minimum acceptable value will be rated volts + 1 MΩ.

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 P1
E L S1
M S2
P2

Fig . 1

b) Primary to secondary IR measurement

1. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 2
2. Note IR readings at 5kV.
3. The minimum acceptable value will be rated volts + 1 MΩ.

P1
S1
E L
M
P2 S2

Fig . 2
c) Secondary to earth IR measurement
1. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 3
2. Note IR readings at 1kV.
3. The minimum acceptable value will be > 1 MΩ.

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P1
S1
L E

M
P2 S2

Fig . 3
d) Core 1 to Core 2 IR measurement
1. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 4
2. Note IR readings at 1kV.
3. The minimum acceptable value will be > 1 MΩ.

P1 S1

S2 L E
M
S1
S2
P2

Fig . 4

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B) Polarity Checks

Outline of Procedure

1. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 5

2. Momentarily touch the lead of P1 to +ve of the cell
3. Note the deflection when the cell is connected and when it is
disconnected.
4. The meter will deflect in reverse direction when disconnected.
5. If there is clockwise deflection in meter, when P1 is connected to +ve, then
it confirms that corresponding CT secondary terminal is S1.
6. Check polarity for all CT cores.
AV0

+ C
P1
S1

+
- S2
S1
S2
P2

Fig . 5

Precautions

1. Discharge the bus fully before testing

2. Use healthy/charged cell.
3. Do not connect battery cell to CT primary for long time.
4. For multi core CT, other cores shall be shorted.

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C) Ratio Checks

Outline of Procedure

1. Disconnect CT secondary circuit wiring.

2. Short CT secondary of other cores.
3. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 6
4. Inject current in primary and measure true RMS current in the secondary.
5. Check ratio.
6. Repeat for all cores.

P1
PORTABLE
CORE 1
AMMETER
S1
C 5A/1A

~ S2
CORE 2

P2

Fig . 6

D) CT excitation characteristics Checks

Outline of Procedure

1. Disconnect CT secondary circuit wiring and earthing.

2. Note CT specification for all cores.
3. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 7

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4. Apply voltage gradually and note down the voltage and current. Increase
the voltage till rated CT current is reached.
5. Check the kPV from the test vis-a vis the kPV specified for the CT core.
6. Compare the readings for all the three phases for each core. It shall be
approximately same.
7. Compare the knee point voltages of metering and protection core. The
knee point voltage of metering core should be less than the protection
core.
8. After final measurement reduce the supply gradually.
9. To facilitate comparison, make measurements for the three phases at
same voltage readings.

2A/8A
P1 S1
AM VARIAC PH

S2 VM ~ 230V AC
5OHZ
P2
NE

Fig . 7
Precautions

1. Disconnect CT secondary circuit wiring and earthing.

2. Do not exceed the rated CT secondary current i.e 5A/1A.
3. Even if at very low voltage, the current exceeds rated current abort the
test.
4. Do not switch off supply abruptly. Reduce supply voltage gradually to
zero.

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E) CT secondary winding and lead resistance measurement

Outline of Procedure

1. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 8

2. Note the lead resistance and CT secondary resistance.
3. Check the Rct from the test vis-a vis the Rct specified for the CT core.
4. Compare the readings for all the three phases for each core. It shall be
approximately same.

S1 I1

V1

S2
I2 V2
MICRO OHM
METER

Fig.8
F) CT secondary injection test

Outline of Procedure

1. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 9, 10, 11 for phase to earth fault
simulation.
2. Retain common terminal connection of CT secondary ‘C1’
3. Disconnect phase side CT connection of CT secondary ‘C2’.
4. Measure injected current in respective phases relay terminals.
5. Repeat the test for phase to phase fault simulation

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6. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 12, 13, 14 for phase to phase fault
simulation.
7. Repeat the above for all cores and all CT including unit protection
schemes.
8. After the test ensure that CT connections are restored.

R Y B
DIRECT CONNECTION,
IF ‘Y’ PHASE
NOT INSTALLED
S1 51 R RN

10 A 51 N
~ AC
S2 S1 51 Y

SOURC
S2 S1 51 B

S2 C2 DISCONNECT HERE

C1 RETAIN S2 LOOP CONNECTION

Phase to earth fault simulation (R-N) Fig.9

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 R Y B
DIRECT CONNECTION,
IF ‘Y’ PHASE
NOT INSTALLED
S1 51 R

10 A 51 N
~ AC
S2 S1 51 Y YN

SOURC
S2 S1 51 B

S2 C2 DISCONNECT HERE

C1 RETAIN S2 LOOP CONNECTION

Phase to earth fault simulation (Y-N) Fig.10

R Y B
DIRECT CONNECTION,
IF ‘Y’ PHASE
NOT INSTALLED
S1 51 R

10 A 51 N
~ AC
S2 S1 51 Y

SOURC
S2 S1 51 B BN

S2 C2 DISCONNECT HERE

C1

Phase to earth fault simulation (B-N) Fig.11

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 R Y B
10A AC,
DIRECT CONNECTION,
SOURCE IF ‘Y’ PHASE RELAY
NOT INSTALLED
51 R
S1
~ S2
DISCONNECT HERE
51 Y
C2 51 N
S1

S2 S1 51 B

S2

C1
RETAIN CONNECTION

Phase to Phase fault simulation (R-Y) Fig.12

R Y B

DIRECT CONNECTION,
10 A AC, IF ‘Y’ PHASE RELAY
SOURCE NOT INSTALLED 51 R
S1

DISCONNECT HERE
S2 51 Y
C2
~ S1
51 N

S2 51 B
S1

S2

C1 RETAIN CONNECTION

Phase to Phase fault simulation (Y-B) Fig.13

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 R Y B
10 A AC, DIRECT CONNECTION,
SOURCE IF ‘Y’ PHASE RELAY
NOT INSTALLED
51 R
S1

C2
S2 51 Y
DISCONNECT HERE
~ S1
51 N

S2 51 B

S1

S2

C1 RETAIN CONNECTION

Phase to Phase fault simulation (B-R) Fig.14

Precautions

1. Check CT mountings (P1, P2 terminals) are as per drawing.

2. Check CT secondary circuit connections (S1, S2 terminals) are as per
drawing.
3. Check tightness of all terminal blocks, relays and meter terminals before
injection.
4. Confirm from CT excitation characteristics, that lower KPV CT is metering
core and higher KPV CT is protection core.
5. Confirm that the protection core is connected to relay circuits and metering
core is connected to metering circuits correctly.

G) CT primary injection test

Outline of Procedure

1. Restore all CT secondary connections and confirm tightness.

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2. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 15, 16, 17 for R, Y, B phase current
injection.
3. Inject the current on primary and measure current on secondary as per
rough ratio, at all relay/ meter terminals.
4. Repeat the above test R-Y, Y-B, B-R current injection.
5. Connect the test setup as per Fig. 18, 19, 20 for R-Y, Y-B, B-R current
injection.
6. Repeat the above tests for all other cores except unit protection cores.

R Y B

P1 P1 P1 51 R
3 KVA S1
PRIMARY 51 Y 51 N
INJECTION ~ S2 S1
SET
S2 S1 51 B

S2

P2 P2 P2

‘R’ Phase Primary Injection Fig.15

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 R Y B

P1 P1 P1 51 R
S1
3 KVA
PRIMARY 51 Y 51 N
INJECTION ~ S2 S1
SET
S2 S1 51 B

S2

P2 P2 P2

‘Y’ Phase Primary Injection Fig.16

R Y B

P1 P1 P1 51 R
S1
3 KVA
PRIMARY 51 Y 51 N
INJECTION S2 S1
SET
~ S2 S1 51 B

S2

P2 P2 P2

‘B’ Phase Primary Injection Fig.17

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 R Y B

P1 P1 P1 51 R
3 KVA S1
PRIMARY 51 N
INJECTION ~ S2 S1
51 Y

SET
S2 S1 51 B 0 0
0 S2

P2 P2 P2

‘R-Y’ Phase Primary Injection Fig.18

R Y B

P1 P1 P1 51 R
0
3 KVA S1
PRIMARY 51 N
~ 0 S1
51 Y
INJECTION S2
SET
S2 S1 51 B 0
S2

P2 P2 P2

‘Y-B’ Phase Primary Injection Fig.19

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 R Y B

P1 P1 P1 51 R
3 KVA S1
PRIMARY 51 N
INJECTION ~ S2 S1
51 Y
0
SET
0 S2 51 B
S1 0
S2

P2 P2 P2

‘B-R’ Phase Primary Injection Fig.20

Precautions

1. Initially inject only 10% of CT primary current. Measure current and its
distribution on secondary side.
2. Increase the current up to desired value, if current distribution is found OK.
3. For multi core CTs test one CT at a time and keep other cores shorted.

H) Auxiliary Current Transformer for Unit Protection

Outline of Procedure

1. Carry out IR measurement at 500V

2. Carry out Ratio check.
3. Measure primary and secondary winding resistances.

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