Transformer

What is a Transformer
A transformer is an electrical apparatus designed to convert alternating current from one voltage to
another. It can be designed to "step up" or "step down" voltages and works on the magnetic induction
principle. A transformer has no moving parts and is a completely static solid state device, which ensures
under normal conditions, a long and trouble-free life. It consists, in it's simplest form, of two or more coils
of insulated wire wound on a laminated steel core. When an alternating voltage is introduced to one coil,
called the primary, it creates a fluctuating magnetic field in the iron core. This fluctuating field then induces
an alternating voltage in the other coil, called the secondary or output coil. The change of voltage (or
voltage ratio) between the primary and secondary depends on
the turns ratio of the two coils. In the schematic shown V2 = V1
x N2/N1.
Transformers are not limited to one output coil. They can
provide a whole range of voltage sources from the one input coil
by using separate windings on the secondary side. This makes
transformers very useful for supplying complete systems with
all of their voltage requirements from one source. The photo on
the right shows a transformer with two input and two output
windings. The input windings are on the top. Connecting the
input windings in parallel allows a standard input voltage of
120v to be used to provide the two 6v outputs. If the input
windings were connected in series the input voltage would have
to be 240v before the same 6v outputs would be available.
Similarly the two output windings can be connected in parallel to increase the current capabilities of the
voltage supply or in series to double the voltage to 12v. This makes the "multi-tap" transformer a very
useful and flexible device.
STEP DOWN:

Step down transformers are designed to reduce electrical voltage. Their primary voltage
is greater than their secondary voltage. This kind of transformer "steps down" the voltage
applied to it. For instance, a step down transformer is needed to use a 110v product in a
country with a 220v supply.

Step down transformers convert electrical voltage from one level or phase configuration
usually down to a lower level. They can include features for electrical isolation, power
distribution, and control and instrumentation applications. Step down transformers
typically rely on the principle of magnetic induction between coils to convert voltage
and/or current levels.

Step down transformers are made from two or more coils of insulated wire wound around
a core made of iron. When voltage is applied to one coil (frequently called the primary or
input) it magnetizes the iron core, which induces a voltage in the other coil, (frequently
called the secondary or output). The turns ratio of the two sets of windings determines the
amount of voltage transformation.

An example of this would be: 100 turns on the primary and 50 turns on the secondary, a
ratio of 2 to 1.

Step down transformers can be considered nothing more than a voltage ratio device.

With step down transformers the voltage ratio between primary and secondary will mirror
the "turns ratio" (except for single phase smaller than 1 kva which have compensated
secondaries). A practical application of this 2 to 1 turns ratio would be a 480 to 240
voltage step down. Note that if the input were 440 volts then the output would be 220
volts. The ratio between input and output voltage will stay constant. Transformers should
not be operated at voltages higher than the nameplate rating, but may be operated at
lower voltages than rated. Because of this it is possible to do some non-standard
applications using standard transformers.

Single phase step down transformers 1 kva and larger may also be reverse connected to
step-down or step-up voltages. (Note: single phase step up or step down transformers
sized less than 1 KVA should not be reverse connected because the secondary windings
have additional turns to overcome a voltage drop when the load is applied. If reverse
connected, the output voltage will be less than desired.)

Step-Up Transformers
DETAILS AND INFO ON INSTALLATION
AND BASIC CONFIGURATIONS
 Step-Up Transformers are common under
very high voltage applications and the larger
the application, the more likely it will be a
custom design. What all Step-Up
transformers have in common is that they
increase voltage. As is discussed on the
What is a Transformer? page, the
mathematical formulas used have all the
elements in the equation of any transformer,
but Step-up Transformers always have a
primary winding that is fewer in winds than is
the secondary winding. The proportion of the two windings to each other determines the
final output voltage.

Why one would want to increase voltage with a Step-Up Transformer is found in the fact
that any conductor has a certain amount of resistance which causes some of the energy
in the line to dissipated as heat. It is also known that the smaller the surface area of the
conductor, the less the power loss through heat dissipation. It is also known that higher
voltages travel more easily on a given surface than lower voltages; therefore, it is
beneficial to step up voltages to much larger quantities so as to offset the predictable
losses through resistance by allowing the use of smaller diameter lines.

There are intricate calculations to describe this phenomena, but this is beyond the scope
of this discussion.

The point here is that the above-mentioned phenomena is used to good effect in Step-
Up Transformers by the simple application of the formula given on the What is a
Transformer? page to bring the voltage up to levels useful in avoiding significantly high
losses of energy through resistance. Such applications are almost exclusively in the
area of energy transmission and are extremely high voltages