Application Note

Extending Current Transformer Wire Leads

Overview
North America Headquarters 203 Cooper Circle Peachtree City, GA 30269 P: 800-553-3879 F: 800-954-7016

If you want to extend the current transformer wire leads, there are four basic options: Twisted - Our standard CT leads are twisted. Twisting is important for noise immunity, espe cially at 60Hz. Shielded and twisted - Adding a shieldin addition to the twistingcan offer some additional noise immunity, especially for long extensions. Note: for best immunity to crosstalk, the wires should be twisted in pairs. Non-shielded and non-twisted - Most cables are twisted, so this normally only arises if you use two single conductors. We recommend against this for most applications, because there is very little noise immunity. This can work if the conductors for each CT are kept in close contact to minimize loop area and if the CT conductors are kept away from line (mains) conductors and in their own conduit or metal raceway. Shielded but non-twisted - This is a bit unusual, but does occur. There are two concerns with this type of cable. First, the shield primarily blocks high frequency interference, but not 60Hz. 60Hz is much better blocked by twisting the wires. 60Hz interference is a big concern, because there is a lot of 60Hz noise and its the main frequency we are measuring. Second, because the wires are not twisted into pairs, there is a greater risk of crosstalk between CTs if you run more than one pair of CT wires in the same cable. If possible, use twisted pair cabling when extending CT wires.

Service & Support Center 6 Green Tree Drive South Burlington, VT 05403 P: 800-553-3879 F: 800-954-7016 International Headquarters 20 Greenhill Crescent Watford Business Park Watford, Herts, WD18 8XG. UK P: +44 (0)1923 495495 F: +44 (0)1923 228796

Shielded
Shielded CT wires should offer some additional noise immunity, especially if the shield is connected to earth ground at BOTH ends. Shielded cable is typically available in 300V and 600V ratings. The 300V rating should be sufficient for 120/208/240VAC panels and circuits, but 600V rated cable should be used for 277/480VAC and 347/600VAC panels. If you are extending multiple CTs, it is possible to buy cables with multiple pairs to cut down on the number of cables to run. We recommend no more than three pairs per cable. We recommend extending with 22, 20, 18 or 16 AWG cables. 22 AWG and 20 AWG will be the easiest to work with.

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Application Note
Shielded Cable Manufacturers
North America Headquarters 203 Cooper Circle Peachtree City, GA 30269 P: 800-553-3879 F: 800-954-7016

Manufacturer Carol

Part Number C2536A. 41.10 3221 SL001 3231 SL001

Voltage Rating 600V

Wire Pairs/ Conductors 1/2

AWG 16 AWG 22 AWG 20 AWG

Temperature Range

UL / NEC

Diameter

Service & Support Center 6 Green Tree Drive South Burlington, VT 05403 P: 800-553-3879 F: 800-954-7016 International Headquarters 20 Greenhill Crescent Watford Business Park Watford, Herts, WD18 8XG. UK P: +44 (0)1923 495495 F: +44 (0)1923 228796

-20C to 75C -55C to 105C -55C to 105C -65C to 105C -65C to 105C -30C to 90C -30C to 80C -20C to 60C ??

UL 2106 0.308 NEC CL2 0.181

Alpha Wire

600V

1/2

Alpha Wire

600V

1/2

0.189

Tyco / Raychem

44A112122-0/9-9 44A112120-0/9-9

600V

1/2

22 AWG 20 AWG

0.132

Tyco / Raychem

600V

1/2

0.148

Belden

9341 0101000

600V

1/2

18 AWG

UL 1277 NEC TC UL 2919 NEC CM UL 2493

0.276

Belden

9841

300V

1/2

24 AWG 22 AWG

0.232

Alpha Wire

6010C SL005

300V

3/6

0.310

Alpha Wire

6456 BK005 9369-50060 95531000-60

300V

3/6

22 AWG 18 AWG 18 AWG

0.414

Belden

300V

3/6

-30C to 105C 105C

UL 2493 NEC CM UL NEC

0.298

Belden Page 2 of 4

300V

3/6

0.411

Application Note
Unshielded
North America Headquarters 203 Cooper Circle Peachtree City, GA 30269 P: 800-553-3879 F: 800-954-7016

The standard CT wires are unshielded, but have good noise rejection due to the twisting of the wires. Unfortunately, these wires are not available as a stock item and must be custom ordered. Supplier: Allied Wire Web: http://www.awcwire.com Phone: (800)828-9473 Part #: UL-1015 22GA BLK&WHT CUSTOM BULK WIRE - 1 TWIST.

Service & Support Center 6 Green Tree Drive South Burlington, VT 05403 P: 800-553-3879 F: 800-954-7016 International Headquarters 20 Greenhill Crescent Watford Business Park Watford, Herts, WD18 8XG. UK P: +44 (0)1923 495495 F: +44 (0)1923 228796

Alternates
These unshielded cables should be more readily available. Manufacturer Part Number Voltage Rating Wire Pairs/ Conductors AWG Temperature Range UL / NEC Diameter

Belden

9486 0101000

600V

1/2

18 AWG

-30C to 90C

UL 1277 NEC TC

0.275

Splicing
When extending the CT wires, you will need to splice the existing wires to the extra wire or cable. You may want to shorten the original CT wires, especially if you are going to use shielded cable and ground the shield to earth ground. Avoid creating large loops or gaps between the white and black wires at the junction point, because this can increase electrical interference. If possible, a soldered connection with heat shrink tubing provides the most professional connection, but this is more time consuming. The next recommendation is an inline crimp connection. There are several systems for joining wires this way that work well. We recommend against using wire-nuts to extend the CT wires. Wire nuts dont hold well for 22 AWG stranded wire and it is difficult to keep the wires parallel and close to each other.

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Application Note
Signal Attenuation
North America Headquarters 203 Cooper Circle Peachtree City, GA 30269 P: 800-553-3879 F: 800-954-7016

Long lengths of cable can slightly attenuate the CT signals (in addition to increasing susceptibility to noise). The following table shows the required total CT length to reduce the CT signal by 0.1% as a function of AWG, based on the Power Meter CT input resistance of 23 kilo-ohms.

AWG
Service & Support Center 6 Green Tree Drive South Burlington, VT 05403 P: 800-553-3879 F: 800-954-7016 International Headquarters 20 Greenhill Crescent Watford Business Park Watford, Herts, WD18 8XG. UK P: +44 (0)1923 495495 F: +44 (0)1923 228796

Ohms / 1000ft 4.016 6.385 10.15 16.14 25.67

Cable Length for 0.1% Attenuation 2850 1800 1130 710 450

16 18 20 22 24

Effect of Interference or Crosstalk

Customers commonly ask how much error will be introduced by extending the CT leads or by using different types of cables. Unfortunately, there is no quantitative answer to these questions. In the case of crosstalk, the amount of crosstalk depends on the following: Signal frequencies: if your load has strong harmonics, there could be more crosstalk. Cable properties: such as the capacitive and inductive coupling between adjacent conductors. CT source impedance: different current transformers have different winding resistances and internal burden resistors, resulting in different source impedances and different susceptibilities to interference and crosstalk. Cable length: the longer the cable, the more crosstalk. Signals on different CTs: are you monitoring a balanced three-phase load or are there completely different current signals on different CT cables? Many of these variables are unknown and their interactions with each other are difficult to predict. With the recommended cable types (twisted pair, optionally shielded), crosstalk should be neglible. With other cables, it is impossible to predict if crosstalk will significantly affect the accuracy. Interference is also impossible to accurately predict or quantify, because it depends on all the factors for crosstalk, as well as the amplitude and frequency of the interference, the distance from the source of the interference, and external shielding, such as conduit. In our experience, it is easier to avoid long CT lead extensions and if you must extend the leads, to use good cables.

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