32A Pre-Meter Protection: Minimum Connection Power Requirements for 16kW Power Load

Question

Hello! I am urgently looking for a current table that would show what the minimum connection power I need for the 32A pre-meter protection. Currently, I have 25A with a connection power of 16 kW and this protection has already worked for me several times. At home I have everything for...

jurkuc · Answer

The table is always up to date:

Pavel7606 · Answer

Do I understand correctly, in order to be able to install a 32A protection, it is enough to increase the connection power to 16.2 kW from the current 16 kW?

jurkuc · Answer

I am afraid that the change of the connection power from 16.0 [kW] to 16.2 [kW] will not change the pre-meter protection. I propose to make a change by eg 2 [kW]. I think that Tauron will not accept the application for a power change by 0.2 [kW], and if it does, it will decide that the pre-meter protection is not subject to change.

kokapetyl · Answer

Hardly any difference. The table shows 25A for 16kW, and for 35A it is 20.6kW. And that's not all, the installation (cross-section) decides about the possibility of increasing the power.

takijasiu · Answer

You don't mean installation on the receiver side, do you? After submitting the application for increasing the connection capacity, at most the power plant may need to perform work on its side - but we probably do not expect it when switching from 16kW to 18kW - right?

kozi966 · Answer

The table shows that 32As start from 16.1kW to 20.6kW. This means that the author may apply for a change, e.g. by 1kW, and they should change the value of the security. Changing the security to a larger one will require verification of the WLZ in terms of permissible parameters.

Pavel7606 · Answer

17 kW will probably be the lowest sensible value in the new proposal so that it doesn't look silly?

takijasiu · Answer

17kW will be OK - it is commonly done.

However, the question is - why 25A overcurrent works and what is its characteristics. Maybe the reasons for activating the protection should be found in improperly balanced phases of the load (e.g. that you have all the kitchen equipment on one phase).

Pavel7606 · Answer

An electrician was there yesterday and checked the current with the water heater on and it was something in the region of 23.6 A, so close to the protection limit. No other appliances with high current consumption were running at the time. The activation of the protection always occurred when the water heater was running, although there had been no problems for over a year as I have lived here, until last month.

Ktoś_tam · Answer

Contact your local ZE even by e-mail and ask for a table. Values of pre-metering protections adjusted to the power in EnergiaPro.JPG The table from the second link is not Tauron, is it? For me, for example, the power is increased by 0.5kW. How will they accept the application and the cash register, why should you be stupid? After all, these are the standards. And the fact that you currently have the highest power with a given protection and you want to have more protection at the lowest cost is not a reason to be ashamed. Most people do that. I think they look more strangely at people who take one of the greatest powers with a given security. Write down what you have enabled at the same time and what power in the event of triggering the security. takijasiu - overload protection characteristics does not matter.

Pavel7606 · Answer

The protection was recently activated even with only the 24 kW water heater in operation.

takijasiu · Answer

If it is a 3-phase instantaneous water heater that loads about 24A per phase, then the protection actually has the right to work when something else is connected to it. And this pre-meter protection, what is the characteristic? Is it a power limiter in the form of a modular apparatus?

Maybe someone adjusted the desired temperature on this heater a month ago? Depending on the model, it may consume less electricity when you turn the knob.
Not current but time in this case [TM]

Added after 2 [minutes]:

Ktoś_tam wrote:
takijasiu - overload protection characteristics does not matter.

Since it is not our characteristics that informs about how a given security will behave with known values of load and time, what determines this?

Added after 2 [minutes]:

Pavel7606 wrote:
The protection was recently activated even with only the 24kW water heater operating ...

Well, the 24kW 3-phase heater gives almost 35A per phase, the 25A protection in the form of e.g. eSki or Etimat T will work within several dozen seconds.

Pavel7606 · Answer

After the last activation of the safety device about 10 days ago, I lowered the temperature on the heater by 5 degrees and there is peace of mind.

Ktoś_tam · Answer

Does this heater have any electronic temperature control? If so, the problem will recur next winter. If there is electronic temperature control, the output of the heaters is then also dependent on the feed water temperature. In winter the water is unfortunately colder and more kW is needed.
What is the cross-section of the wires from the meter? Maybe you should think about increasing the power by two values? What you have now is sufficient only for the water heater and practically nothing else. 32A won't give you comfort of use either, because you won't be able to switch anything current-consuming on at the same time as the heater.
Is the protection activated at the moment the heater is switched on or after a while? If it activates immediately, maybe the heater is faulty?

Pavel7606 · Answer

Yes, the heater has electronic temperature control and the protection was always activated after the heater had been in operation for some time - never at the moment of switching it on. From the meter there go wires of about 1 cm in cross-section judging by the layman's eye. Far more than 32A would have to go hand in hand with a much higher connection power, so a considerable cost for the whole operation.The water heater is a Kospel PPE2 18/21/24

Ktoś_tam · Answer

24kW is a lot for a consumer. Do you realise that if you increase the protection by one degree, you will still be balancing on the borderline of protection tripping? The number of appliances in the home is increasing every decade, not decreasing. You would have to be on guard all the time.
The cost is something in the region of 70 PLN, if I remember correctly, for each additional kW above what you have. A total of several hundred zloty.
Another option is still to replace the heater with one with a lower output. But I suspect this is even more out of the question. 24kW, that's quite boiling water flying.
You write that an electrician has been and measured the current. Did he say anything, have any suggestions?

Pavel7606 · Answer

The electrician suggested a minimum power increase that would allow 32 A protection to be put in place.

Ktoś_tam · Answer

In that case, increase the power to these 32A, the cost is only a few dozen zlotys. It will definitely improve the situation. If it is not enough, at most you will go through the entire procedure from the beginning + several hundred zlotys.
The biggest problem may be in winter, where you need to raise the temperature by an additional few degrees.

Pavel7606 · Answer

This is what he plans to do. If that doesn't help, will have to spend more, hard to do. Anyway, thanks a lot for the hints.

kokapetyl · Answer

Just do not forget that increasing the protection from 25A to 35A requires checking what the installation is and whether its cross-section is appropriate. It has already been discussed.

32A Pre-Meter Protection: Minimum Connection Power Requirements for 16kW Power Load

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