National Electrical Manufacturing Association (NEMA) has revised its standard for measuring distribution transformer loss. TP 2-2005, “Standard test method for measuring the energy consumption of distribution transformers,” provides a standardized method for measuring distribution transformer loss to achieve energy efficiency levels outlined in NEMA Publication TP 1: “Guide for determining energy efficiency for distribution transformers.”
The standard was revised to address concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) about the previous edition. Under the “Energy Policy and Conservation Act,” DOE was charged with developing rules to adopt test procedures for measuring energy efficiency of distribution transformers. The revisions are intended to make TP 2 acceptable to DOE so that the department can adopt it as a DOE test procedure. In response to DOE’s concerns, the NEMA Transformer Section revised and published the standard in 12 months.
“The NEMA TP 2 standard is nationally recognized as the basis for testing procedures of distribution transformer energy efficiency standards,” said Kyle Pitsor, NEMA’s vice president of government relations. “It is specifically required for new federal energy efficiency standards based on NEMA TP 1 for low-voltage distribution transformers, and is also used and referenced by state governments and agencies. The new revision includes several important changes that were identified as part of a public regulatory discussion last year.”
Click here to view or download the standard.
—Jeanine Katzel, senior editor, Control Engineering,
[email protected]
