Experiment 1: Open-Circuit (OC) and Short-Circuit

(SC) Test on a Single-Phase Transformer

Electrical Machines Laboratory

From

Jadhav Aditya Santosh

IIT Dharwad
Permanent Campus
Dharwad, Karnataka, 580007
ee23bt027@iitdh.ac.in
20 August 2025

Objectives of the Experiment

• To carefully determine the equivalent circuit constants of a single-phase transformer by conducting two
fundamental experiments: the open-circuit (OC) test and the short-circuit (SC) test.

• To calculate the efficiency and voltage regulation of the transformer without the need for actual loading,
which saves both energy and time during testing.
• To separate the no-load losses into their two main components, namely the constant core-loss (hysteresis
and eddy-current losses) and the magnetizing losses, and to understand their significance in practical
applications.
• To become familiar with the use of measuring instruments such as ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters,
and the auto-transformer in transformer testing.

Summary
Direct loading of medium- and large-size transformers is generally avoided because of the huge power con-
sumption and excessive heating that may occur during full-load testing. Instead, practical and approximate
methods are adopted, where only a fraction of rated power is consumed, yet reliable results are obtained.
The open-circuit test primarily gives information about the core or iron-losses, along with the shunt branch
elements of the equivalent circuit (Rc , Xm ). On the other hand, the short-circuit test provides details of the
winding copper losses and the series branch components (Req , Xeq ).
By combining the results of these two tests, one can completely model the equivalent circuit of the
transformer. This allows us to predict its behavior, efficiency, and regulation under any operating condition
without the need for actual heavy loading. For our given transformer:
VHV 230
a= = =2
VLV 115

Circuit Diagram
(Diagrams must be drawn clearly using Inkscape for neatness, not by snipping images.)

1
 Open-Circuit Test Setup

Short-Circuit Test Setup

Experimental Set up Details

The experiment was performed on a single-phase transformer rated at 1 kVA, 230/115 V, 50 Hz. The
testing requires basic electrical measuring instruments along with a protective setup to ensure safety. The
instruments and their ratings are listed below:

2
 Instrument Rating/Type Quantity
Ammeter (AC) 0–2 A (OC), rated (SC) 2
Voltmeter (AC) 0–300 V 2
Wattmeter LPF for OC, UPF for SC 2
Auto-transformer 1-Φ, 0–270 V, 50 Hz 1
Fuses, leads, DPST switch Standard –

The auto-transformer was used to gradually increase the supply voltage during both OC and SC tests,
ensuring that the applied values did not exceed the transformer’s rated levels. Care was taken to use LPF
(low power factor) type wattmeter during the OC test, since the load is inductive, and UPF (unity power
factor) type during the SC test, where the load is almost resistive in nature.

Observation
Open-Circuit Test (LV supplied, HV open)
S.No Ammeter (A) Voltmeter (V) Wattmeter (W)
1 0.39 115 14.4
Short-Circuit Test (HV supplied, LV shorted)
S.No Ammeter (A) Voltmeter (V) Wattmeter (W)
1 4.3 12 30
The OC test mainly gave us the value of the no-load current, which is a very small fraction of the rated
current, thereby confirming that the transformer requires minimal excitation current. The SC test showed
that only a very small percentage of the rated voltage (in our case around 5–8%) was sufficient to circulate
rated current, indicating that the winding resistance and leakage reactance are quite small.
Rated full-load currents:
1000 1000
IF L,LV = = 8.696 A, IF L,HV = = 4.348 A
115 230
OC Test:
14.4
cos ϕo = = 0.32, sin ϕo = 0.94
115 × 0.39
Ic = 0.1248 A, Im = 0.3666 A
115 115
Rc = = 918 Ω, Xm = = 921 Ω
0.1248 0.3666
SC Test:
12
Zeq = = 2.79 Ω
4.3
30 p
Req = = 1.622 Ω, Xeq = (2.79)2 − (1.622)2 = 2.27 Ω
(4.3)2

Conclusions
The results obtained from the two tests were in good agreement with the theoretical expectations. The
open-circuit test yielded Rc = 918 Ω and Xm = 921 Ω, which clearly represent the core-loss and magnetizing
reactance branches of the transformer. Similarly, the short-circuit test gave Req = 1.622 Ω and Xeq = 2.27 Ω,
which correspond to the equivalent winding resistance and leakage reactance respectively.
It was also observed that the no-load current drawn by the transformer is only about 3–5% of its full-
load current, thereby validating the assumption of negligible no-load current in many calculations. The SC
test further indicated that the transformer requires only a small fraction of rated voltage to produce rated
current, which highlights its efficiency in energy transfer.
In conclusion, the experiment successfully demonstrated how simple laboratory tests can be used to accu-
rately estimate equivalent circuit parameters and performance indices of a transformer without subjecting it
to actual load. This makes transformer testing highly practical, reliable, and safe for use in real engineering
applications.