Skip to main content
CALC 07 · POWERFREE

Transformer Sizing

TRANSFORMER SPECIFICATIONS
V

Common: 208, 480, 4160, 13800V

V

Common: 208, 240, 480V

kVA

Apparent power rating (S = P / pf)

Typical: 0.85 (inductive), 1.0 (resistive)

QUICK PRESETS

Three Phase Applications

TRANSFORMER TYPES
Dry Type95% eff

Indoor, safe, maintenance-free

Oil Filled98% eff

High power, outdoor, cooling

Pad Mount97% eff

Underground distribution

CALCULATION SHEET
Recommended Size
75 kVA
Standard 3φ transformer
Primary
60.14 A
@ 480V
Secondary
138.79 A
@ 208V
Turns Ratio
2.308 : 1
N₁/N₂ = V₁/V₂ = 480/208

Efficiency & Losses

Efficiency:95.00%
Power Loss:2.50 kW
Input Power:50.00 kVA
Output Power:40.38 kW
Energy Flow
95.0%
Loss

Standard 3φ Sizes (kVA)

3
6
9
15
30
45
75
112.5
150
225
300
500
750
1000
1500
2000

RecommendedAcceptableToo small

Derivation
  1. 01Configuration: 3-phase transformer
  2. 02Primary voltage: 480 V
  3. 03Secondary voltage: 208 V
  4. 04Power: 50 kVA (50000 VA)
  5. 05Turns ratio: Np/Ns = Vp/Vs
  6. 06Turns ratio: 480 / 208 = 2.3077:1
  7. 07Step-down transformer (voltage reduced by 0.43×)
  8. 08Efficiency: 95.00% (specified)
  9. 09Primary current (3-phase): Ip = S / (√3 × Vp)
  10. 10Ip = 50000 / (1.732 × 480) = 60.14 A
  11. 11Secondary current (3-phase): Is = S / (√3 × Vs)
  12. 12Is = 50000 / (1.732 × 208) = 138.79 A
  13. 13Current ratio: Ip/Is = 0.4333 ≈ 0.4333 (Vs/Vp) ✓
  14. 14Output apparent power: 50000 VA × 0.9500 = 47500.0 VA
  15. 15Output real power: 47500.0 VA × 0.85 PF = 40375.0 W
  16. 16Losses (heat): 50000 VA × (1 - 0.9500) = 2500.0 W
  17. 17Required capacity (with 10% margin): 50 × 1.1 = 55.00 kVA
  18. 18Standard transformer size: 75 kVA
  19. 19At load power factor 0.85:
  20. 20 Real power: 42500.0 W
  21. 21 Reactive power: 26339.1 VAR
  22. 22ℹ️ Large transformer - consider:
  23. 23 • Inrush current (5-10× rated current)
  24. 24 • Cooling requirements (ONAN, ONAF)
  25. 25 • Protection (fuses, thermal relays)
Formula
Vp/Vs = Np/Ns = Is/Ip, S = √3 × V × I
REFERENCE — INSTALLATION NOTES
Allow 25% spare capacity for future expansion
Check voltage regulation (typically 2-5% at full load)
Ensure adequate ventilation (dry-type: 12\" clearance)
Install primary and secondary overcurrent protection
Ground per NEC 250 (case + secondary neutral)
Label voltage, kVA rating, and connection diagram