Section Index | Owatonna Steele County Amateur Radio | 20-Jul-2007 |
A transformer is a static electrical device that transfers energy from one electrical circuit to another by magnetic coupling. A simple single phase transformer consists of two electrical coils (or windings) in close proximity to each other. The primary coil is normally the input, where the energy is applied. The secondary is the output. The primary is fed with a varying (AC or pulsating DC) electric current which creates a varying magnetic field around the coil. The magnetic field also suurounds the secondary winding because of its proximity. If the ends of the secondary are connected complete an electrical circuit, current flows out of the secondary. Energy is transferred from the primary coil to the secondary coil through the magnetic field.
As indicated above, the simple transformer consists of two coils in close proximity to each other. Another component of a transformer is the core, which the coils are wrapped around. The core can be:
Continuing on with power transformers, there are three basic types:
The type of transformer is mostly determined by the ratio of the numbers of coils between the primary and secondary. The low-voltage windings have fewer turns of wire than the high-voltage windings. The role of a transformer is to transfer power. Neglecting any losses in the transformer, the power applied to the transformer should equal the power used on the secondary side. Power is calculated by multiplying the votage times the current ( P = E * I ). It should be recognized that if the voltage changes across a transformer, the current changes flowing on the primary and secondary are inversely proportional. For example, consider 1,150 Watts flowing across a 230 VAC to 115 VAC power transformer. If the power being applied primary is 230 VAC at 5 amps, the current flowing through the 115 VAC secondary is 10 amps.
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