Low Voltage Automatic
Capacitor Banks
Automatic Power Factor
Correction For Low Voltage
Systems: 240VAC - 600VAC /
75KVAR - 1000kVAR
NEPSI
Northeast Power Systems, Inc. LV-ACB™ Product Literature
May, 1999
LV-ACB™ - Low Voltage Automatic
Capacitor Banks
Low Voltage Automatic Capacitor Banks for Improving
Power Factor, Reducing Transformer Loads and Power Specification
Factor Penalties
NEPSI’s low voltage automatic capacitor banks are designed to
NEPSI’s low voltage automatic capacitor banks are designed for endure the harsh electrical and environmental conditions that are
industrial and commercial power systems requiring a single point typically found in industrial process facilities.
source of power factor correction at the low voltage level.
Enclosure
Product Benefits NEPSI’s automatic capacitor banks are housed in NEMA 3R
enclosure and is suitably supported, constructed, and assembled
to meet the strength and rigidity necessary to meet the
• Automatically controlled power factor regulation. requirements given in ANSI/IEEE C37 and UL Standards. All
• System wide correction with a single piece of equipment. fastening hardware inside and out is stainless steel. To maximize
• Low installation cost. corrosion resistance, the outside of the enclosure is coated with
an ANSI 61 light gray enamel finish.
The front of the enclosure is equipped with a hinged door for
Product Features easy access. The doors are mounted on stainless steel hinges and
are held shut with 3-point latching handles. The handles are
stainless steel and are lockable.
• System is designed with Aerovox 3-terminal ICS capacitors
and are rated for conversion to a harmonic filter. Capacitor supports and enclosure base consists of welded C4
• Compact modular design with provisions for future structural steel channel. Four removable lifting eyes are
expansion in the field. provided.
• Programmable digital power factor controller with control
up to 15 steps.
• Standard reactive power ratings from 150 kvar to 1000 kvar Capacitors
at 480 and 600 volts (75 kvar to 300 kvar at 240 volts).
Higher ratings available upon request. The capacitor bank consists of UL Listed, low loss, three
• Indoor/Outdoor Design as standard bushing, industrial rated, metallized electrode, self-healing
• Automatic C/K Calibration capacitors with integral discharge resistors mounted in a single
• UL Listed as Industrial Control Panel (508A) steel tank. The capacitors are finished with a UL listed ANSI #61
• Multi-Ratio Split-Core Current Transformer Supplied as light-gray finish and meet or exceed the latest applicable ANSI
standard. and IEEE standards.
• Short lead times.
The capacitors have a proven 20-year (continuous duty) life
expectancy. The capacitor’s steel case is welded and
hermetically sealed with an internal pressure interrupter, virtually
Application eliminating the possibility of case rupture.
NEPSI’s low voltage automatic capacitor banks are designed for The capacitors are designed for harmonic filter bank duty and
low voltage systems requiring automatic power factor correction, can be utilized in a harmonic filter bank retrofit, if required.
reduced system capacity, and improved voltage regulation. The Discharge Resistors: Each capacitor cell incorporates internal
simple modular design allows for future expansion as plant loads discharge resistors designed to reduce the capacitor voltage to 50
increase. The capacitors and system topology is designed for volts or less within one minute after removal from the circuit.
direct conversion into harmonic filters, if the need should ever
arise. Installation and startup is simple and free of common Environmental Parameters: Capacitors are designed to operate
problems. between
-40°C and +46°C (-40°F to +115°F).
NEPSI
Northeast Power Systems, Inc. LV-ACB™ Product Literature Page 2
Contactors
Each step of the LV-ACB™ is switched with a NEMA rated 600
Protection
Volt contactor that is UL listed for capacitor switching. The
NEPSI’s capacitor banks are equipped with overload and short
contacts, coils, and auxiliary contacts can be changed without
circuit protection. Protection features are as follows:
disturbing other components within the bank.
Fusing: Each stage is protected from overloads (resulting from
Power Factor resonance) and faults by 600 volt 200,000 AIC (amps
Controller interrupting current), UL rated, bus mounted fuses. Fuses are
located on the line side of the capacitors and contactors.
The LV-ACB™ is controlled by a digital power controller with Blown Fuse Lights: Each fuse is equipped with a blown fuse
the following features: light that indicates a fuse operation. Lights are mounted on the
outside of the enclosure.
• Automatic self adjustment to any capacitor step value
• Digital indication of power factor, preset parameters and
specified installation data Warranty
• No-Volt release feature to immediately disconnect all
capacitors in the event of a power failure. • 12 system warranty
• Plug-in terminal connection
• Automatic elimination of defective capacitor steps, and their
indication (i.e. Welded contacts, failed capacitor, etc.)
• Visual display of target power factor alarm
• Visual display of harmonic overload alarm
Optional Accessories
Main Disconnecting Devices: (MC___) or (FD___) NEPSI’s Out of KVAR Alarm: (KA or KL) An out of kvar alarm can be
automatic capacitor banks may be equipped with either a main provide to give visual and/or audible indication of not having the
disconnect, main fusible disconnect, or a molded case circuit capability to meet the target power factor.
breaker that is externally operated through a rotary handle.
Ammeter: (A) A three-phase ammeter can be provided to show
the operating current of each filter bank stage.
On/Off/Auto Switches: (H) On/Off/Auto Switches may be
added to NEPSI’s standard automatic banks to provide complete Voltmeters: (V) A three-phase voltmeter can be provided to
individual control of each capacitor bank stage. show the system voltage.
Dust Proofing: (D) Can be provided where location require Keyed Interlock System: (KK) A keyed interlock system can be
filtering over louvers. provided that will prevent access into the capacitor bank until the
bank has been shut down by an upstream disconnecting device.
Cooling Fan: (CF) A cooling fan can be provided that increases
the cooling when installed in places where accessive heat may
cause problems. Not recommended if ambient temperature does
not exceed 90oF.
240 Volt Automatic Capacitor Bank
Selection Chart
BANK RATED SHIPPING
RATING STEP X MODEL CURRENT WEIGHT
(KVAR) KVAR NUMBER (AMPS) (POUNDS)
75 3 X 25 75LVA240F2B 181 800
100 4 X 25 100LVA240F2B 241 870
125 5 X 25 125LVA240F2B 301 940
150 6 X 25 150LVA240F2B 361 1005
200 8 X 25 200LVA240F2B 482 1140
250 10 X 25 250LVA240F2B 602 1275
300 6 X 50 300LVA240F2B 723 1410
Consult the factory or your sales representative for capacitor bank kvar ratings greater than
those or different than those shown in the table above.
NEPSI
Northeast Power Systems, Inc. LV-ACB™ Product Literature Page 3
480 & 600 Volt Automatic Capacitor Bank
Selection Chart
BANK RATED RATED SHIPPING
RATING STEP X 480 VOLT CURRENT 600 VOLT CURRENT WEIGHT
(KVAR) KVAR MODEL NUMBER (AMPS) MODEL NUMBER (AMPS) (POUNDS)
150 3 X 50 150LVA480F2B 181 150LVA600F2B 145 825
200 4 X 50 200LVA480F2B 241 200LVA600F2B 193 900
250 5 X 50 250LVA480F2B 301 250LVA600F2B 241 975
300 3 X 100 300LVA480F2B100 361 300LVA600F2B100 289 1050
300 6 X 50 300LVA480F2B 361 300LVA600F2B 289 1100
350 7 X 50 350LVA480F2B 421 350LVA600F2B 337 1125
400 4 X 100 400LVA480F2B100 482 400LVA480F2B100 385 1200
400 8 X 50 400LVA480F2B 482 400LVA600F2B 385 1250
450 9 X 50 450LVA480F2B 542 450LVA600F2B 433 1275
500 5 X 100 500LVA480F2B100 602 500LVA600F2B100 482 1350
500 10 X 50 500LVA480F2B 602 500LVA600F2B 482 1350
550 11 X 50 550LVA480F2B 662 550LVA600F2B 530 1425
600 6 X 100 600LVA480F2B100 723 600LVA600F2B100 578 1500
600 12 X 50 600LVA480F2B 723 600LVA600F2B 578 1550
650 13 X 50 650LVA480F2B 783 650LVA600F2B 626 1575
700 7 X 100 700LVA480F2B100 843 700LVA600F2B100 674 1650
700 14 X 50 700LVA480F2B 843 700LVA600F2B 674 1700
750 15 X 50 750LVA480F2B 903 750LVA600F2B 723 1725
800 8 X 100 800LVA480F2B100 963 800LVA600F2B100 771 1800
800 16 X 50 800LVA480F2B 963 800LVA600F2B 771 1835
850 17 X 50 850LVA480F2B 1020 850LVA600F2B 819 1855
900 9 X 100 900LVA480F2B100 1080 900LVA600F2B100 867 1875
900 18 X 50 900LVA480F2B 1080 900LVA600F2B 867 1910
950 19 X 50 950LVA480F2B 1140 950LVA600F2B 914 1950
1000 10 X 1000 1000LVA480F2B100 1200 1000LVA600F2B100 963 1975
Consult the factory or your sales representative for capacitor bank kvar ratings greater than those or different than those shown in
the table above.
FRONT SIDE
ENCLOSURE
DIMENSION: 90"H x 33"Wx33"D
FINISH: ANSI 61 GRAY
NEMA-1,3R CONSTRUCTION
NEPSI
Northeast Power Systems, Inc. LV-ACB™ Product Literature Page 4
Automatic Capacitor Bank Accessories
Accessory
DESCRIPTION Code
ADDITIONAL CURRENT TRANSFORMER CT
MOLDED CASE/INSULATED CASE
CIRCUIT BREAKERS
250 AMP MC250
400 AMP MC400
600 AMP MC600
800 AMP MC800
1000 AMP MC1000
1200 AMP MC1200
1600 AMP MC1600
2000 AMP MC2000
FUSED DISCONNECT SWITCH
200 AMP FD200
400 AMP FD400
600 AMP FD600
800 AMP FD800
ON/OFF/AUTO SWITCHES H
OUT OF KVAR LIGHT KL
OUT OF KVAR ALARM KA
AMMETER A
VOLTMETER V
DUST PROOFING D
COOLING FAN CF
HF REACTOR RETROFIT (ADD 6” TO RR
WIDTH DIMENSION)
KEY INTERLOCK KK
Three-line diagram of typical low voltage automatic capacitor bank. Capacitors, transient inrush reactors, control power transformer,
contactors, 3 phase fusing, current transformer placement and incoming breaker are shown.
Northeast Power Systems, Inc.
66 Carey Road
Queensbury, New York 12804
Phone: 518-792-4776
Fax: 518-792-5767
Email: sales@nepsi.com
Webpage: www.nepsi.com
NEPSI
Northeast Power Systems, Inc. LV-ACB™ Product Literature Page 5
NEPSI
Northeast Power Systems, Inc. LV-ACB™ Product Literature Page 6