A highly accurate, hand-held clamp-on current transformer

The design, operation, and performance of a 1000:5 A highly accurate, hand-held, clamp-on-type current transformer are presented. This precision current transformer uses a sensitive magnetic circuit to detect transformer ampere-turn unbalance between the primary and secondary circuits. The unbalance represents an error in the ratio and phase angle of the transformer. The largest of the errors is due to the core magnetization current and magnetic reluctance caused by the cutting of the core material. After sensing the errors, electronic feedback through a magnetic circuit is used to provide an error-correcting current. This reduces the overall errors dramatically. These types of devices are referred to as “active” current transformers because of the use of electronic amplifier and feedback circuits. The device described has a novel feature of an openable, split core. This “clamp-on” capability enables use of the transformer on a bus or cable without the complications or need to open the current-carrying circuit to be measured. Commonly used “clamp-on”-type current transformers generally have uncertainties from about 1 to 5% at full-scale rated current. This paper describes a commercialization of active current transformers having a ratio uncertainty of less than ±0.05% over a current range from full-scale rated to 1% of full-scale. Additionally, this product has a small phase angle which is an important consideration when measuring electric power, energy, and power factor. It is intended to be used by electric utilities, standards laboratories, testing laboratories, and in applications where high measurement accuracy and the split-core, clamp-on feature are attractive considerations