The primary of a current transformer typically has only one turn. This is not really a turn or wrap around the core but just a conductor or bus going through the “window.” The primary never has more than a very few turns, while the secondary may have a great many turns, depending upon how much the current must be stepped down. In most cases, the primary of a current transformer is a single wire or busbar,and the secondary is wound on a laminated magnetic core, placed around the conductor in which the current needs to be measured, as illustrated in figure 1.

If primary current exists and the secondary circuit of a CT is closed, the winding builds and maintains a counter or back EMF to the primary magnetizing force.

Should the secondary be opened with current in the primary, the counter EMF is removed; and the primary magnetizing force builds up an extremely high voltage in the secondary, which is dangerous to personnel and can destroy the current transformer.

Current transformers are used with ammeters, wattmeters, powerfactor meters, watt-hour meters, compensators, protective and regulating relays, and trip coils of circuit breakers. One CT can be used to operate several instruments, provided the combined loads of the instruments do not exceed that for which the CT is rated.