High accuracy CT’s are becoming more and more popular with utilities these days. Because of new manufacturing processes and materials, manufacturers such as Peak Demand are now able to make their CT’s more accurate. But, more accurate than what? Just saying that a CT is high accuracy still does not tell us what it is. So, what is a high accuracy CT?
What is a Standard Accuracy CT?
To understand what makes a CT “high accuracy,” we first need to know what the standard accuracy of a revenue grade CT is. To be classified as a revenue grade CT the IEEE states that it must be a Class 0.3. Well, that really does not tell us much. Class 0.3 means that the CT must be accurate to within 0.3% of the nameplate rating up to the rating factor.
We can use a common Class 0.3, 600:5 CT with a rating factor of 2 to create an example. From the nameplate value of 600 amps all the way up to 1200 amps when using the rating factor, the CT has to be accurate to within 0.3%. However, below 600 amps, more specifically from 10% of 600, which is 60 amps, all the way to 600 amps the CT only has to be 0.6% accurate. Below 60 amps the accuracy is not guaranteed. Thus the need for a higher accuracy solution.
What is a High Accuracy CT?
A high accuracy CT is a Class 0.15S. This means that the CT must be accurate to within 0.15%, but there is more. Not only does the Class 0.15S have a closer accuracy tolerance range, the ampere range is greater as well. Now, instead of only being accurate from the nameplate rating up to the rating factor, the CT must be accurate all the way down to 5% of the nameplate value.
We can use a Class 0.15S, 600:5 CT with rating factor of 4 to create another example. In the previous example the CT was accurate to within 0.3% from 600 amps all the way to 1200 amps. From 60 amps to 600 amps the CT was accurate to 0.6%. And below 60 amps there was no guaranteed accuracy. Now with the Class 0.15S 600:5 CT the accuracy is guaranteed from 5% of the nameplate value all the way to the rating factor. So, from 30 amps all the way to 1200 amps the CT is 0.15% accurate. What a difference. This offers a very big advantage to utilities.
Conclusion
A high accuracy CT can be a great solution for any utility that is looking to increase their revenue. Manufacturers like Peak Demand have high accuracy solutions available such as their Alta Series™ of High Accuracy 600V Metering Current Transformers line. The next time you are in the market for CT’s think about using high accuracy CT’s instead of the standard Class 0.3 CT’s you have been using all these years.