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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 44
Member
Today had a call that parking lot lights were not illuminating. Here is the set-up: Primary V 208/120 3P feeding a 75KVA transformer. Steps up to 480/277v.
From transformer, circuit goes to a photo cell controlled contactor, which than energizes a panel with lighting circuits.
Photo control working correctly. Contactor opens and closes correctly. However...with contactor CLOSED I have these voltages from phase to ground on HV side. A:210 B:340 C:340. When contactor is OPEN I have A:177 B 178 C:160 Phase to phase whether A-B or A-C or B-C is 479-481V no matter if contactor is open or closed. I have never seen this before. Any theories.

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 44
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[Linked Image from i886.photobucket.com]

Joined: Mar 2004
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twh Offline
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Is your 277/480 neutral grounded?

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 44
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Yes. This system has been in place since 2002. All of a sudden parking lot lights do not go on. I checked bond in xfmr, and also followed electrode back to main. First thing I checked after reading screwy voltages.

I believe it is in the xfmr coils themselves. I removed HV wires off xfmr lugs for giggles to see if voltage would change with nothing connected on that side. Voltages were the same.

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twh Offline
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With 480 volts on the lines, the neutral/ground voltage isn't possible without a bad neutral or ground. I assume your lighting is 277 volts. What else can it be?

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 44
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Originally Posted by twh
With 480 volts on the lines, the neutral/ground voltage isn't possible without a bad neutral or ground. I assume your lighting is 277 volts. What else can it be?


It is 277v lighting. Please clarify your response, I do not quite understanding what you are saying the way it is worded...Thanks blush

Last edited by SafetyWired; 07/08/13 07:45 PM.
Joined: Mar 2004
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twh Offline
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I assume the lights not working is related to the odd voltage.

With a 480/277 system, you cannot have another voltage to ground besides 277 unless the neutral or ground wire is bad. That would also explain the lights not working.

It's my best guess.

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 44
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Originally Posted by twh
I assume the lights not working is related to the odd voltage.

With a 480/277 system, you cannot have another voltage to ground besides 277 unless the neutral or ground wire is bad. That would also explain the lights not working.

It's my best guess.


This could mean the coils ground too than...correct?

Joined: Nov 2005
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J
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Sure sounds like secondary neutral bonding to me.

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 44
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Neutral is bonded to frame with copper band, on xfmr than lugged electrode runs from chassis to main disc. bond. I were to run a second electrode temp from bond in disc to xfmr frame, and I still do not have 277...would it mean the neutral/ground is open in the transformer itself?

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