Live CT Tester: MODEL 505B                                         

In high revenue areas such as universities, shopping malls
and business centres, taking CT's offline for testing is not
an option, so a reliable live CT test alternative is required.

Live CT testing using admittance...
A component of a good CT's characteristic performance is
a low admittance value. This admittance value can be measured while in-circuit using the 505B (pictured).
The 505B is placed in series with an in-circuit CT and it
superimposes a small 1.6kHz signal onto the live 50 or 60Hz
secondary metering circuit.
A filter on board the 505B extracts the 1.6kHz admittance
reading and from this a quick determination is made on the
CT's general health.
Admittance testing only adds an extra 10 minutes to a polyphase
meter test and is quickly becoming part of a routine test requirement
for some utilities.

The 505B can perform the following measurements:

Voltage and current at 50 or 60Hz.
1.6kHz admittance test on a CT secondary.
1.6kHz admittance test on a CT secondary plus the complete metering loop.
VA burden of the metering loop downstream from the test block, or at the CT secondary terminals.
VA burden of the metering loop from VT secondary terminals or at its test block.

A USB interface is also provided on the front panel for downloading results data to a PC.

Performing field test measurements of Current and Potential
Transformers has been made far simpler with the Model 590J-V2.

This full featured product combines all of the metering CT test
abilities of the popular 590G-V2 model with the additional advantage of also being able to perform both protection CT
excitation tests as well as burden based inductive PT tests.

The 590J-V2 eliminates the need for additional bulky accessories
usually required to perform various tests on different types of
equipment, saving the operator valuable time and money.

Light weight and portable, the 590J-V2 is housed in a ruggedized
plastic case and is supplied with the necessary test cables and
attachment accessories. It is further packaged in a foam lined
transit case for safe transport.

It features the following offline test capabilities:
- Burden based CT and PT ratio and phase error measurements
  to an accuracy of 0.02%
- Excitation measurements of Protection Class CTs
- Optional Live CT test capability with 590F accessory
- CT and PT secondary winding resistance, PT primary included
- CT 1.6 kHz Admittance test
- Simulated Full Load inductive PT testing on up to 2 windings with
   or without Junction box
- CT and PT Burden test
- CT and PT polarity check
- Batch testing of metering CTs
- No name plate CT Class Estimation
- Record download to USB Flash or optionally via Bluetooth to an Android tablet or phone.

This full featured CT and PT test instrument lowers testing costs by being simple, fool-proof and fast.
It's capabilities allow utility personnel and test technicians to pursue the very important task of testing field
based instrument transformers for measurement losses, faults or tampering.

Since 1999, Red Phase Instruments has led the way in the manufacture of portable CT error testing equipment.
Our portable analysis method has allowed utilities around the world to test their metering CTs easier and faster than using bulky traditional methods without jeopardizing accuracy.

Following feedback from our users, our Model 590G-V3 is the latest version of this successful and well proven CT error tester.

The 590G-V3 has all the features and advantages of the previous models with additional testing features, better accuracy and smaller size and weight.

In a world where cost control is gaining importance, this CT tester not only lowers testing costs by being simple, fool-proof and fast. It also allows utilities to pursue the very important (yet at many times forgotten) task of testing installed CTs for detecting tampering, and minimizing losses due to faulty CTs.

It features the following offline test capabilities:
- Burden based CT and PT ratio and phase error measurements
  to an accuracy of 0.02%
- Excitation measurements for most metering Class CTs
- CT secondary winding resistance
- CT 1.6 kHz Admittance test
- CT and PT Burden test
- CT and PT polarity check
- Batch testing of metering CTs
- No name plate CT Class Estimation
- Record download to USB Flash or optionally via Bluetooth to an
  Android tablet or phone.
- Remote control via Bluetooth
- Multitap, option for a 5 ratio metering CT

The model 595LV is designed to test the translational integrity of
Low Voltage* metering CTs which are permanently commissioned
and cannot be taken offline.

To determine the translational accuracy of a live  CT, the 595LV
measures the primary and secondary current over a predetermined
number of samples.

The current ratio and phase angle errors are calculated for each sample
and an average is taken to give the final translational current and phase
error accurate to within 0.1% of the CT manufacturer's specification at
rated current.
 
To measure the primary current the instrument has provision for two types of current clamps:
- a 50mm ID 1000:1 ratio clamp, able to measure primary loads up to 1200 Amps
- an 85mm ID 3000:2 ratio clamp, able to measure primary loads up to 3600 Amps

The secondary current is measured by the 595LV using one of two methods:
- 8 to 20mm ID 1000:1 ratio clamp, able to measure up to 10 Amps
- Direct connect to CT terminals, able to measure up to 10 Amps

The clamps listed above are electronically compensated for accuracy within the 595LV, so the correct
clamp must be selected from the unit's menu before a test is performed.

Other features:
- Live admittance testing
- Colour touch screen
- GPS, for accurate sampling and phase synchronization
- USB for record transfer to flash stick
- Bluetooth for communication with High Voltage clamp accessory, 595HV
- Mains and battery powered
- Battery capacity is 12 Vdc / 30Wh lithium

* - LV or Low Voltage metering installations are typical less than 600 VAC.

The model 595HV has been developed to work as an isolated
 high voltage primary current extension to the 595LV above.

The 595HV wirelessly connects to the 595LV and the two
synchronously measure and sample a HV CT's current and
phase error accurately to within 0.1% of manufacturer's
specification.

The default clamp size is 32 mm inner diameter and is suitable
for most HV feeders. It is a 1000:1 ratio and the opening and
closing action is controlled by a servo motor embedded within
the instrument's case.

Positioning any clamp onto a HV cable can be particularly
challenging especially if the hot stick onto which it's mounted
is very long.
The 595HV has made this easier with an embedded camera which faces the clamp direction.
The image is transmitted to a 5 or 6 inch colour display placed in a swivel clamp and positioned at the
operator's eye level on the hot stick.
This allows the operator to more clearly position the clamp beneath the HV line of interest and then
activate the clamp to close around the line.

The 595HV may also be used to perform live load testing of high voltage feeders to detect suspicious
energy siphoning or branches of excess usage.

Other features include:
- Infrared control of clamp jaws opening and closing
- Bluetooth, for communication with the 595LV
- GPS for phase synchronization
- Screw mountable; can quickly be mounted onto a hot stick or even a drone with a dedicated platform
- Internal battery; 12 Vdc / 30 Wh lithium ion
- Weighs approx 2 kg or 4.4 pounds

Our 590 reference Transformer is a valuable reference platform
for the calibration of our 590 series of CT Testers.

The reference Transformer comes in a rugged pelican case with
with terminal posts for connection and selectable transformer
tap switches which allow the operator to calibrate a 590 series
CT tester over a wide range of ratio settings.

These ratio settings on a 590 series CT test instrument are called gain
constants. By selecting the appropriate reference taps on the 590J-RT,
the user is able to adjust the gain setting on the 590 CT tester to more accurately reflect the true ratio.