The purpose of the distribution system is to distribute the electricity to each customer's

residence, business, or industrial plant. It is primarily composed of the distribution substation and
distribution feeders, but also contains many other pieces of equipment including reclosers,
sectionalizers, fuses and capacitors.
Distribution Transformers
Electric power leaves the distribution substation with voltage ranging typically between
4,000 and 36,000 volts. This is still, of course, too high for most typical uses, such as homes,
businesses, and even small industrial users. The device used to step this voltage down to service
voltage is yet another transformer, the distribution transformer.
Distribution Transformers operate just like large transformers in a distribution substation.
The transformer steps the voltage down to the service voltage required by the particular customer.
A normal residential service utilizes two separate voltages, 120 and 240 volts. Several residential
services are generally run from one distribution transformer. They are sized to meet the needs of
the total load of all of the customers connected to it.
Businesses and industrial plants generally do not share transformers with other customers
and require larger transformers depending on the type and amount of electrical equipment.
Large power users involving big motors such as heavy manufacturing companies
frequently use service voltages higher than 240 volts to reduce the size and cost of their electrical
equipment. Most industrial facilities utilize 480 volts but some may require primary line voltages
due to very large motors or high energy processing needs.

Protective Equipment
Most distribution transformers are protected by lightning arresters, fuses and thermal
overload breakers that are either contained in the transformer or must be mounted external to the
transformer.
Lightning arresters are designed to protect the transformer from very high lightning surge
voltages, as well as to prevent the surge from damaging other protective equipment.
Fuses offer short circuit protection from internal faults or short circuits by removing the
damaged transformer from the primary line. If not removed from the line, a damaged transformer
may cause many more customers to suffer a power outage unnecessarily.
Thermal overload protection for the transformer is designed to trip in the event of a short
circuit on the secondary side, or in the event of "thermal overload" due to sustained high currents.
Single Phase Transformers
The most common single phase service is provided from one single-phase transformer,
used mainly for residential and small commercial service at both 120 and 240 volts. In supplying
single-phase loads, the service drop almost always consist of two load, or service lines, and a
neutral. If the transformer has three low-voltage bushings, the center bushing is always the neutral,
to which the neutral line is connected. The two service lines are connected to the remaining two
bushings. From such a connection, two different single-phase voltages are available. The voltage
between the two "hot" legs of the service is 240 and the voltage between either "hot" leg and the
neutral is 120. Single phase service can easily be provided from either Wye or Delta distribution
systems by using the appropriate type of transformer.
Three-Phase Transformers
Just like single-phase transformers, three-phase transformers step down the higher
distribution voltages to lower levels for utilization by customers. Pole-top, three-phase
transformers are simply three single-phase transformers connected together in either a Wye or
Delta connection. Occasionally, only two single-phase transformers are used to make a three-phase
bank but only in specific circumstances.
Pad-mount three-phase transformers look very much like big single-phase units. Larger
ones have fins on the back to help dissipate heat.
 Devinitions
distribution system;
distribution feeders;
distribution transformer;
electrical equipment;
power outage;
Thermal overload protection;
Lightning arresters;
single phase service
single-phase transformer
service drop
pole-top transformer;
pad-mounted transformer
Vocabulary
residence;
reclosers;
sectionalizers;
fuses and capacitors;
operate;
particular customer;
normal residential service utilizes;
frequently;
utilize;
arresters;
high lightning surge voltages;
unnecessarily;
to suffer;
the center bushing;
appropriate;
Occasionally;
but only in specific circumstances;
coolling fins;