How to Know How Many Amps Deliver a

Transformer?
Learn in an easy and practical way, how to find the amperage of an electrical transformer
Nowadays it is very common to recycle electrical components and especially transformers. Copper wire
every day is more expensive, so reusing them greatly helps us in our economy. But some of the
disadvantages when using recycled transformers, is the identification of their cables . Also know what
voltage and current delivery. It is also very important to know how to measure this, since many times,
when we send a transformer, we find dishonest manufacturers, who deceive us, handing us transformers
that do not deliver the required amperes.

A very common example is that when we send a

transformer, the manufacturer tells us about the "branches" of the winding, as if it were a tree. They lie to
us telling us that each "branch" has half the amps. So they justify making the transformer with much
thinner wire.
I'm going to tell you one of my bad experiences when I did not do my transformers:
When I was starting on the audio electronics, I sent out a 6 amp transformer. When I went to pick it up, I
was given a transformer with 18 gauge wire in the secondary winding. The manufacturer told me that each
"branch" delivered 3 amps.
But which branch? If a winding with central tap is simply a simple winding, with an outlet in the middle to
have a center point?
Two wires may be wound at the same time, but at the end they connect in series. And remember that in a
series circuit the amps are maintained and the voltage doubles.
These manufacturers of bad faith, tell us that each half winding has a certain number of amps and add the
amps of both windings, as if they were in parallel, and this is false.
So this is a very powerful reason for all of us to know how to measure the Amps of a transformer.
IMPORTANT NOTE : Many rely on the law that says that the square area of a transformer's core is equal
to the power. But this lends itself to misunderstandings and frauds as well.
It turns out that this formula gives us the power that the core is capable of supporting. But it is not the only
factor to determine the power of a transformer. For example:
A core of 6 x 3.2 = 19.2
19.2 core area squared = 368W
But here comes the confusion: If for example the transformer has an output voltage of 36 volts, then many
comment the following error :
 368W divided 36 volts = 10.24amps. FALSE ! This can only be true if the transformer has a 13 gauge
wire . And it is impossible that in some sheets of a core of 3.2 x 6 , fit that wire, and that without counting
the primary winding. So do not make false statements with those happy calculations.
Tools needed to measure a transformer

The tools needed to achieve a very accurate measurement are:

Two multimeters, one that measures amps on a high scale and one that measures volts AC.
A foot of meter or foot of king.
a bridge of diodes.
10 resistances from 10 ohms to 10W or better to 20W
10 switches of at least 5 amps each.
and a clamp meter, in the case of measuring transformers of more than 10 amperes.
Measurement from wire gauge

The first form of measurement that we will see is

from knowing the diameter or caliber of the wire of the secondary winding. then we look for its
equivalence to finally see how many amps that wire supports.
For this procedure we use a digital vernier. The measurement is made in millimeters, which is one of the
scales in the table.
Next I will make an example based on the AWG table, with the most used calibers.
AWG table of the company Procables

Caliber Circular Mils Diameter mm Amperage

 10 10,383 2.59 21.2

eleven 8,234 2.30 16.6

12 6,530 2.05 13.5

13 5,178 1.83 10.5

14 4,107 1.63 8.3

fifteen 3,257 1.45 6.6

16 2,583 1.29 5.2

17 2,048 1.15 4.1

18 1.624 1.02 3.2

19 1,288 0.91 2.6

twenty 1,022 0.81 2.0

twenty-one 810.1 0.72 1.6

22 642.4 0.65 1.2

2. 3 0.509 0.57 1.0

24 0.404 0.51 0.8

25 0.320 0.45 0.6

NOTE : Before beginning we must clarify that there are many AWG tables and that the amps in many
cases do not coincide. This is because each wire manufacturer must make its own AWG table, specifying
what amperage its cables support.
In the first picture we have at the beginning of this article has 3 transformers:
The first is a toroidal that has a secondary winding with 3 wires in parallel. This is done by industrialized
manufacturers, since the toroidal winding machines work with a better performance with not so thick
wires. When measuring the wire, we saw that it was 1.02 millimeters. When looking at the AWG table, we
have that it is an 18 gauge and that it supports 3.2 amps. Since there are 3 wires, we have the secondary
winding delivers 9.6 amps.
However; when measuring the amperes of the transformer, we obtained 10.3 amps. This proves that the
quality of the wire is better than the wire exposed in our AWG table. Therefore, for a more accurate
measurement, the following measurements must also be made.

Simple measurement with multimeters

In the graph we see a way to measure the amps of a transformer. basically it is to place a bridge of diodes
to the output of the transformer and measure the output of the bridge, placing the ammeter and a resistance
of enough power, but very little impedance.
In the example we use a resistance of 2.2 ohms at 20W . it acts as a load. That is to say, it simulates the
load that a device would make, for example an amplifier .
The other multimeter goes parallel to the AC output of the transformer, at the junction point with the
bridge inputs. It is placed on alternate voltage scale.
The measurement must be done quickly, since the resistance heats up a lot and we can burn our fingers.
If when measuring, the voltage falls more than 3 volts, I mean that the load is very high and that we should
use a slightly higher resistance. Otherwise, we will see more amps than the transformer actually delivers,
since the volts of fall are converted into amps.
Variable load circuit

Thinking about achieving a more accurate

measurement of the amps of the transformer, we have built this circuit.
It consists of a diode bridge, to which we connect in series 10 resistances of 10 ohms, which in turn are in
parallel with each other.
Each resistor has a switch so that it can be activated or deactivated, according to the need. thus, we can
activate each resistance, and we increase the load. The entire circuit is mounted on an aluminum
sheet. This works as a heatsink.
Recall that having two resistors in parallel, its impedance is divided, and its power is added.
By activating the 10 resistors, we would have an ohm.
Another formula that is good to remember, is that when there are more than two resistances in parallel, the
result is the product, on the sum. Example:
3 resistors of 10 ohms is equal to:
3 * 10 = 30
3+3+3=9
30/9 = 3,333 ohms
Measurement with variable load and two multimeters

Now that we are clear about the operation of the variable load circuit, let's see how the measurement is
made with two multimeters.
The multimeter that is on the scale of volts AC, is placed at the AC output of the transformer. That is to
say in the union with the input pins of the diode pente.
The other multimeter, which is in the ampere scale, is colcoated in series with all the resistances. one point
goes to the junction of all the resistors that are connected to the positive of the bridge, and the other end is
connected to the negative diode bridge output.
When connecting the circuit, we activate only one resistance and observe. If the voltage is maintained, we
can turn on the next, and the next, until the voltage has dropped no more than 3 volts. It is at that moment
that we can see the measurement of amps, and we will have a reliable data.
If we exceed the load, the volts fall too much and we will see many more amps at the output, which are not
reliable, since what we are doing is forcing the transformer.
The clamp meter

The clamp meter is another kind of ammeter that

measures without the need to connect directly to the circuit that requires measuring the current. Thus we
can measure very high current quantities, without the risk of burning the tool and without the need to open
the device to be measured.
The clamp has in its clamp some clapas like those of the transformers that inside have a wire
winding. When current flows through the middle of the clamp, a magnetic field is generated that generates
a voltage. This voltage reaches a circuit that analyzes and then calculates the equivalent to the current that
is happening.
It is important that the clamp closes its clamp around a single cable, otherwise it would pass in two
opposite directions or phase and that would give a "zero" reading. The tongs that we find in the trade can
measure between 400A and 1kA (1000A).
This clip was lent to me in Audio-Robotics. One of the stores where I buy my supplies, in race 9a, No 20-
13. local 101, Bogotá Colombia.
Measurement with variable load, multimeter and amprimetric clamp
When we are going to measure a transformer that exceeds the ampere that our mute meter supports,
(usually 10 amps), we must use a clamp meter.
The clamp is placed on one of the two output cables of the transformer. Remember that it is only to
surround the cable with the clamp. There is no direct contact.
The rest of the measurement is the same. we increase the load, until we find the maximum point that the
transformer supports.
practical video of measuring amps of a transformer