Signals and sensors

Current transformer ratio and burden calculator

Calculate expected CT secondary current and check rated burden against instrument burden plus the complete secondary lead-loop loss.

Calculate

Ratio and measured current
A
A
A
Rated burden check
VA
Enter burden quoted at this CT’s rated secondary current. For unchanged impedance, VAnew = VAreference × (Inew ÷ Ireference)².
Ω
VA

Worked example

Secondary current at the measured primary current

3 A

Nominal current ratio
20 :1
Primary current as a share of rating
60 %
Lead-loop burden at rated secondary current
2.5 VA
Connected burden, conservative sum
3.5 VA
Rated burden headroom
1.5 VA
Equivalent connected impedance, conservative
0.14 Ω

The conservative burden sum is within the CT rated burden. Instrument burden must be quoted at the selected rated secondary current. This does not approve CT accuracy, saturation, fault duty or physical fit.

Method and assumptions

Formula

Is = Ip ÷ (Ip,rated ÷ Is,rated); VAlead = Is,rated² × Rloop; VAtotal = VAinstrument + VAlead

Wiring burden is checked at rated secondary current. Expected output at the entered measured primary current is reported separately.

Limits of this result

  • For conventional current-output CTs with an external burden. This tool is not for voltage-output CTs or Rogowski coils.
  • Ratio and rated burden do not establish accuracy class, saturation, fault duty, insulation rating or aperture fit.
  • Enter the resistance of the complete outgoing-and-return secondary lead loop at its operating temperature.
  • Enter instrument burden at the selected rated secondary current. For unchanged impedance, burden at another current scales with the square of current.
  • Adding instrument VA magnitude and resistive lead VA is a conservative arithmetic sum, not an exact complex-impedance calculation.

Technical sources

  1. What is required when selecting a VT or CT?Schneider Electric · last reviewed 2026-09-14
  2. What if the rated CT burden is inadequate?Schneider Electric · modified 2026-06-23
  3. Can current transformer secondary windings be open-circuited?Schneider Electric · accessed 2026-09-14

Put the value to work

Read the related engineering guidance, or carry this task into System Builder to identify the signal path and EpiSensor products.

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