What is balanced loading and why is it important?
Balancing transformer loads means being sure the transformer winding directly feeding a load is not overloaded beyond its capacity. Most single phase transformer applications involve secondary windings rated for 120/240 Volts. These are frequently connected for three wire service. Since the transformer has two 120 volt secondary windings, each one is capable of supplying only one-half of the transformer’s rated KVA capacity. If care is not taken, it is possible to apply a combination of 120 and 240 volt loads that will, while not exceeding the total nameplate rating, exceed the rating of one of the 120 Volt windings. The same is true of three phase transformers, especially those with 208Y/120 Volt or 480Y/277 Volt secondaries. Remember, each of the three secondary windings of a three phase transformer has a maximum capacity of one-third the nameplate KVA rating. It is always necessary to distribute the single and three phase loads as evenly as possible across the three secondary windin
