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Common Types of Transformer

Following are the few common types of transformer

Power Transformer - These power transformers operate at 50 to 400 Hz at a absolute nominal line voltage from 105 to 130 V. They are actually made with single and multiple secondaries with various step-up and step-down turns ratios.

Secondary Transformer - Secondaries transformer could have a single tap, multiple taps and even sometimes no tap. Some units are prepared with a tapped primary. Output voltage could start ranging from three to several thousand volts with output currents from .01 to 1500 A.

The Cores Transformer - The cores transformers are made up of iron or steel laminations. They are packaged in a hermetically sealed case especially for military or space use or with an open frame or even plastic enclosure for commercial, consumer or any industrial use.

Isolation Transformer - These types of transformer operate with a one-to-one turn’s ratio between primary and secondary, as isolating the line from the secondary load. Usually, an isolation transformer further comprises of Faraday shield, which is in fact a screen of nonmagnetic metal wound between the primary and secondary and then connected to the transformer core.

The Shield Transformer - The shield transformer acts particularly to prevent capacitive coupling of spurious signals and sound between windings, and it as well reduces transformer efficiency by improving leakage current.

Control Transformer - These are used as small power transformer for controlling components like relays and low voltage ac control devices. Common output voltages come in 12 and 24 Vac at current capabilities of 4 to16 A.

Autotransformer - Autotransformers are types of single winding with either fixed or variable step-up or step-down turn’s rations. They are actually smaller and less pricey than the two-winding types.

Audio Transformer - These audio transformers vary from the power transformer types in, which they are used to give matching electrical characteristics of an output amplifier to that of any normal load speaker. In high-fidelity audio systems, they further operate from 20 Hz to 20 KHz. This audio transformer comprises of voice communications only and operates from 200 to 500 Hz.

Radio Frequency Transformer - These radio frequency transformers operate at a fixed high frequency with a capacitor across primary, secondary or sometimes even both to create a tuned or resounding circuit. Most types normally use an air core; however some are made up of ferrite slug to allow any sort of adjustment for inductance windings over a given range. They are generally assembled in aluminum-shielded container to reduce pickup or radiation of magnetic fields.

Pulse Transformer - These types are used for the generation and transmission of square wave pulses with emphasis on fast rise and fall times of the pulse and high-frequency response. These transformers are packaged in a miniature enclosure, 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch in diameter, and use an air core.