TESTS ON

TRANSFORMER
1. Open Circuit Test or No Load Test
2. Short Circuit Test
3. Polarity Test

Open Circuit Test or No-load Test

The low voltage side is supplied with
rated voltage while the high voltage side
is left open. Electrical measurements are
done on the low voltage side.

Pcoreloss Poc

S oc Eoc I oc

Eoc
Rm
Poc

Eoc
Xm
Qoc

Qoc S oc Poc
2

where:
Poc = reading of the wattmeter during the test (watt)
Eoc = reading of the voltmeter during the test (volt)
Ioc = reading of the ammeter during the test (ampere)

Example:
The no-load current of a transformer is
4A at 0.25 pf when supplied at 250 V,
60 Hz. Determine the
a. core loss
b. resistance representing the core
loss
c. magnetizing reactance

A.
Pcoreloss Poc

Poc Eoc Ioc pf 25040.25 250watts

B.
2

Eoc
2502
Rm

250
Poc
250

C.
Soc Eoc Ioc 2504 1000VA
Qoc Soc Poc 10002 2502 968.24VAR
2

2
Eoc
250
Xm

64.55
Qoc
968.24

Short Circuit Test

The low voltage side is short circuited while
the high voltage side is supplied with voltage
adjusted so that the high side will draw rated high
side current. Electrical measurements are done on
the high voltage side.

Pcopper loss (rated load)

Re( high )

P sc
2
I sc

Psc

Z e( high )

E sc

I sc

X e( high ) Z e( high ) Re( high )

2

where:
Psc = wattmeter reading during the test (watt)
Isc = ammeter reading during the test (ampere)
Esc = voltmeter reading during the test (volt)
Re = equivalent resistance referred to the high side
Xe = equivalent reactance referred to the high side
Ze = equivalent impedance referred to the high side

Example:
A short circuit test was performed upon a 10kVA, 2300/230 volt transformer with the
following results: Esc = 137 volts; Psc = 192W;
Isc = 4.34 A. Calculate in primary terms the
equivalent resistance and reactance of the
transformer.

E sc 137
Ze

31.567
I sc 4.34
Psc
192
Re 2
10.193
2
4.34
I sc
X e Z e Re
2

X e 29.88

31.567 10.193
2

Polarity Test

where:
Vp = test input voltage (volt)
V = voltmeter reading (volt)

If V>Vp, the polarity is additive

If V< Vp, the polarity is subtractive

Example:
A 2300/230 volt distribution transformer is tested for
polarity in accordance with the standard method. If 120
volts is impressed across the high voltage windings,
determine the voltmeter reading if the transformer has
a. additive polarity
b. subtractive polarity

N2
E1 N1

E2 E1
E2 N 2
N1
230
E2 120
12volts
2300
Reading = 120 + 12 = 132 volts
Reading = 120 12 = 108 volts

for additive
for subtractive

TRANSFORMER LOSSES

Copper Loss
- I2R loss in the primary and secondary windings.

Pcu I R1 I 2 R2
2
1

Pcu I Re1 I 2 Re 2

2
1

Core Loss or Iron Loss

- eddy current loss + hysteresis loss

Peddy ke ( f m ) ke ' E g
2

1.6

Physteresis kh f

1.6
m

Eg
kh ' 0.6
f

where:
Pe = eddy current loss (watt)
Ph = hysteresis loss (watt)
ke, kh = proportionality constant
m = maximum flux density (tesla)
Eg = supply voltage (volt)

f = frequency of supply voltage (hertz)

Example 1:

In a 400V, 50 c/s transformer, the

total iron loss is 2500 W. When the
supplied voltage is 220V at 25 c/s,
the corresponding loss is 850W.
Calculate the eddy current loss at
normal frequency and voltage.

 Eg
Ph kh 0.6
f

1.6

Pe ke E g

Eg
Pe Ph ke E g kh 0.6
f

1.6

Pcore

When supply is 400V, 50Hz:

1.6

400
2
2500 ke ( 400) kh 0.6
50
2500 160000ke 1392.88kh

kh 1.795 114.87ke Eq.1

When supply is 220V, 25Hz:
1.6

220
2
850 ke (220) kh 0.6
25
850 48400ke 811.17kh Eq.2

Substitute Eq. 1 in Eq. 2:

850 48400ke 811.17(1.795 114.87ke )

ke 0.01353
Pe ke E g 0.01353(400)
2

Pe 2165watts

The efficiency of the transformer is the ratio of its output power

(power drawn by the load) to the input power (power developed
by the transformer).

Poutput
Pinput

Poutput V2 I 2 pf

Pinput Poutput Plosses

where:
Poutput = output power or power delivered to the load
Plosses = power losses

V2 = load voltage (volt)

I2 = secondary current or load current (ampere)
pf = power factor

TRANSFORMER BANKS
FOR
THREE-PHASE CIRCUITS

1. Delta-to-delta (-) connection

- This connection is seldom used in threephase transformers.

2. Delta-to-wye (-Y) connection

- It is often used for distribution service
where a four-wire secondary distribution
circuit is desired.

3. Wye-to-delta (Y-) connection

- This is extensively used for power
transmission and distribution.

4. Wye-to-wye (Y-Y) connection

- It is used when tying together two high-voltage
transmission system of unequal voltage.

Seatwork:
1. The following data were obtained when a
short circuit test was performed upon a 100
kVA, 2400/240V distribution transformer:
Esc = 72 volts; Isc = 41.6 A; Psc = 1180W.
All instruments are on the high side during
the short circuit test. Calculate the
equivalent resistance and reactance of the
transformer.

2. The no-load loss of a transformer at rated

voltage is 100watts at 30 Hz and 300 watts
at 60 Hz. What is the hysteresis loss at 60 Hz
and rated voltage? (Note: Since not specified, the
maximum flux density (m) is assumed constant.)

Assignment:

When a 220V, 60Hz is impressed on a

certain transformer at no load, the
total core loss is 200W. When the
frequency of the impressed voltage is
changed to 25 Hz and the magnitude
of the voltage is made such as to
maintain the same maximum flux
density as before, the core loss falls to
75W. Calculate the hysteresis losses at
60 Hz.