Distribution transformers
1600 kVA transformer
A 1600 kVA transformer delivers 2,309 A at 400 V and carries 1,440 kW at a power factor of 0.9. A 1600 kW load needs 2000 kVA.
- Rated current at 400 V
- 2,309 Acalculated
- Load at power factor 0.9
- 1,440 kWa 1600 kW load needs 2000 kVA
- Incomer frame at 400 V
- 2500 Aan air circuit breaker
- EU load loss ceiling, liquid
- ≤ 12,000 WTier 2, Table I.1
- EU no load loss ceiling, liquid
- ≤ 1,080 WTier 2, Table I.1
Where 1600 kVA is used
1600 kVA is the R10 step between 1250 and 2000 kVA. Many industrial plants and larger data halls are laid out around it.
The conversion to kilowatts is where specifications go wrong. A request for a "1600 kW transformer" usually describes a 1600 kW load, and at a power factor of 0.9 that load needs 1,778 kVA, above this rating.
On DEWA's network in Dubai, where 11 kV is the most used medium voltage, a 1600 kVA unit draws about 84 A from the primary.
Rated currents at 1600 kVA
| Primary | Secondary | Primary current | Secondary current |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kV | 400 V | 92 A | 2,309 A |
| 11 kV | 400 V | 84 A | 2,309 A |
| 20 kV | 400 V | 46 A | 2,309 A |
| 33 kV | 400 V | 28 A | 2,309 A |
Sizing a 1600 kW load
Divide the load by its power factor, then take the next standard step. A 1600 kW load needs 2000 kVA at every realistic power factor, and a 1600 kVA unit suits loads of roughly 1,280 to 1,520 kW.
Write the rating on the order in kVA. The sizing calculator runs the same arithmetic for any load, with diversity and a margin for planned growth.
A 1600 kW load, converted
| Power factor | Apparent power needed | Standard rating that carries it |
|---|---|---|
| 0.80 | 2,000 kVA | 2000 kVA |
| 0.90 | 1,778 kVA | 2000 kVA |
| 0.95 | 1,684 kVA | 2000 kVA |
kVA = kW ÷ power factor, then the next step of the R10 series. Diversity, harmonics and motor starting are checked before the final choice.
The board behind a 1600 kVA unit
2,309 A sits in the 2500 A frame. The incomer is an air circuit breaker, the connection is normally busbar trunking, and the room is drawn around it.
The upper bound of the fault current at 400 V is about 38.5 kA at 6 percent impedance. The board and every breaker on it are rated for the fault level the designer calculates. Paralleling two units of this size would take that bound to about 77 kA.
EU loss ceilings at 1600 kVA
| Construction | Load losses Pk | No load losses P0 |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid immersed | ≤ 12,000 W | ≤ 1,080 W |
| Dry type, cast resin | ≤ 13,000 W | ≤ 1,980 W |
Commission Regulation (EU) No 548/2014 as amended by (EU) 2019/1783, Annex I, Tables I.1 and I.2, Tier 2, from 1 July 2021.
Running cost and delivery
At this size the losses carry a visible running cost. Some specifications set losses below the ceiling and compare offers on purchase price plus the capitalised cost of losses. Each offer states the declared load and no load losses of its unit, so that comparison can be made.
The unit is heavy enough that the delivery route and the lifting plan belong in the order. Its drawing and mass come with the quotation, and transport to site is quoted as a separate line when you ask for it.
Outdoors or indoors in Qatar
Kahramaa's substation guidance lets a load of up to 1,600 kVA take an outdoor substation where no second transformer is foreseen, and calls for an indoor substation as soon as there are two or more. At 1600 kVA, planned growth therefore decides the building as well as the rating. In Great Britain, Tier 2 cut the liquid immersed ceilings at this rating from 14,000 W and 1,200 W to 12,000 W and 1,080 W.
What a 1600 kVA transformer request needs
- The load in kW and its power factor, so the step can be checked against 2000 kVA
- Capitalisation values for no load and load losses, where offers are compared on lifetime cost
- The delivery route and the lifting position on site
Specification template
Fill it in on screen or by hand, then upload it with your request.
Questions buyers ask
Is a 1600 kVA transformer the same as 1600 kW?
No. A transformer is rated for apparent power. At a power factor of 0.9 a 1600 kVA unit carries 1,440 kW, and a 1600 kW load needs a 2000 kVA unit.
What is the current rating of a 1600 kVA transformer?
2,309 A at 400 V and 2,133 A at 433 V. On the primary it is about 92 A at 10 kV, 84 A at 11 kV and 46 A at 20 kV.
What size is a 1600 kVA transformer?
Footprint and mass come from the drawing of the unit offered. Construction, loss level, cooling, enclosure and cable boxes all change them, so two 1600 kVA units can differ considerably.