
ELDB006R9 15/07/2015 17:44 Page 11 of 21
Ampcontrol Electronics
ELDB006R9 ELD V2 USER MANUAL
Rev 9 –03/14, ECN: 10573
4.3.1 Core Balance Protection
With this method all three phases of the cable are passed symmetrically through the toroid. If there is no
earth fault present, the vector sum of the currents in a three-phase supply is zero. If current from any
phase flows to earth the toroid flux becomes unbalanced. The toroid produces an output, which trips the
relay.
A test current is injected through the window of the toroid to test the operation of the relay.
4.3.2 Series Neutral Protection
With this method the neutral is passed through the toroid. An earth fault on any of the phase conductors
causes an earth current which returns, through the toroid, to the star point of the transformer.
A test circuit can connect a test resistor between a phase and earth or inject a current through the toroid
as previously described. The test resistor to earth method is recommended with this type of protection as
this test also proves the neutral to earth connection.
4.4 Earth Leakage Toroids
Toroids (current transformers) are not ideal devices and if correct procedures are not followed during
installation, nuisance tripping can result. If, for example, we consider a single-phase earth leakage
system where active and neutral pass through a toroid then at all times currents in the two wires are
equal and opposite so that the net current through the toroid is zero. An ideal current transformer would
have all of the flux from each wire contained in the core and so would accurately add the opposing fluxes
to get a net result of zero. A real current transformer has “leakage fluxes”. This means that a very small
proportion of the total flux from each cable is not contained in the core but in the space outside it and as
a result it may link some turns but not others, depending on the positioning of the cables. The effect of
this is that a small output may be obtained from the toroid where none would arise if the device were
ideal.
The size of the error may vary from toroids of the same type because of slight differences in the core and
the symmetry of the winding. Problems caused in this way increase as the toroid size increases, as
currents increase and symmetry decreases. Nuisance tripping tends to occur when the total current
rises, such as when a large motor is started. The following guidelines would help to avoid such
problems.
4.4.1 Toroid Selection
i. Select the smallest internal diameter toroid, which will allow the cables to fit through. Avoid very
large toroids (200mm) or toroids with square apertures.
ii. Only use approved toroids specified by Ampcontrol as these have been designed to minimise the
problem.
4.4.2 Toroid Installation Guidelines
i. Keep cables as close to the centre of the toroid as possible. Do not tie them to one side of the
toroid. Remember to aim for symmetry.
ii. Do not bring the cables back past the toroid within one diameter of the toroid. Trying to cram
cables into a small space reduces symmetry and may lead to problems which are difficult to
solve.
iii. Avoid placing the toroid near any device which produces magnetic fields. This includes busbars,
transformers or other cables. Try to maintain several toroid diameters clearance.
iv. Many small cables tend to be worse than three larger ones. Try to position the toroid in the circuit
with this in mind.
v. Toroids used for core balance earth leakage protection cannot have busbars passed through the
toroid.
vi. To prevent possible nuisance tripping it is suggested that the conductor screen of the earth
leakage toroid should be earthed at the relay end only. If both ends are earthed the possibility