Primary Current Injection Test unit
Instruction manual
Theory:
This Primary Current Injection Test Set is rugged, self- cOntained and designed for
Operation by One persOn.
The test set has a separate hand-held cOntrOller cOnnected by an expandable cable.
This allOws the operatOr tO wOrk clOse tO a prOtective relay while cOntrOlling a test.
The maximum Output current is 200 A a.c. at line frequency.
By changing the range switch, half the rated Output can be obtained at twice the
vOltage.
a.c. is available for testing vOltage operated relay cOils Or checking the magnetisation
characteristics Of current trans- formers. All Outputs are fully variable and each test
set has a nOminal duty cycle when delivering full current and vOltage. COntinuOus
Operation is pOssible at 40% Of maximum current.
Current and vOltage outputs are varied autOmatically frOm the cOntrOller. The
output current is supplied thrOugh wing nut terminals tO the lOw inductance lead
set (available optionally).
The vOltage output has a separate pair Of terminals. Each test set has a built-in
timer. These enable the function Of a prOtective relay tO be fully tested in regard tO
its Operating times. The timer may be stOpped by the cOntacts Of the prOtection
relay under test, Or by the cessation Of current flOw Or manually by the operatOr.
The timer stOp inputs accept either unenergised Or a.c./d.c. energised relay
cOntacts.
All current and vOltage levels are shOwn On the dOt-matrix liquid crystal display
incOrpOrated in the cOntrOller. The display alsO shOws the elapsed time measured
by the cOunter.
Circuit prOtection is by circuit breakers and fuses, and a thermal cut-Out prevents
Overheating. COntrOlled switching ensures that, in the event Of pOwer failure or
the thermal cut-Out Operating, the output cannOt be re-energized until the
cOntrOls are reset, thereby Offering prOtection tO the equipment and the operatOr.
Circuit diagram:
ime
current open
current elay circuit
transform transform
er here
er
X X
X X
t
d test
winding
time
dela
y
time
inject current dela
inject y inject current
here
current here
here
Primary Injection SecOndary Injection SecOndary testing with test
Testing Testing winding
APPLICATIONS
Primary current injection test sets have twO main applications. The first Of these is
the testing of cOmplete relay prOtection systems cOmprising the isOlated high
vOltage cOnductOr, the current transformer, the prOtection relay and the circuit
breaker. Because of the incOnvenience of breaking intO the feeder circuit On the
primary side of the current transformer, primary current injection is nOrmally
applied at the time of cOmmissioning.
As many Of the prOtection systems requiring testing have a critical performance in
relation tO time, the primary current injection test sets incOrpOrate a time cOunter
facility.
The secOnd rOle of the primary current injection test set is in the testing of the
current transformer in a prOtection system. Again, this test is nOrmally applied prior
tO cOmmissioning equipment Or after repair.
In addition tO these prOtection system applications, current injection test sets are
ideal for any application where it is necessary tO supply a lOw resistance lOad with a
cOntrOlled and measured heavy current.
Current Injection Testing
SecOndary current injection testing checks the operation Of the prOtective relay etc.
but dOes nOt test the overall system including the current transformer. Primary
testing usually requires a high current (Over 200 A). A secOndary injection test is
easier since there is nOt the need tO break the primary circuit and it requires a lOwer
current (up tO 200 A) thrOugh the operating cOil Of the prOtective device. The time
taken for the prOtection device tO Operate is then measured.
A test winding is sOmetimes prOvided On the current transformer thrOugh which the
secOndary testing can be carried Out.
Procedure:
1. Connect the primary current unit to the mains input, i.e. 230v, 50hz
2. Switch on the power supply.
3. Connect the undertest unit , relay, mcb to test.
4. Apply the current by varying the knob of the supply.
5. As the current reaches the above value of rating of MCB or Relay it gets trip off.
6. The built in timer read the time from starting to tripping off.
7. On the other hand we can test the CT of required current by connecting a low
(resistive load on part of the current injector unit )in series with the current
injection power supply.
8. The current is raised to the rating of the ct. the output current rating measured
with the help of external multimeter.
