Transformers: Why They’re Important
Transformers are used to transfer alternating current from one circuit to another. Their practicality comes from the ability to change electric voltage without altering frequency. What that means is they’re so key to electronics today, you’ll find them in virtually every household appliance and in the power supply to any device. On a larger scale, all industrial equipment and power grids use them to distribute and regulate power.
Transformers are prized for increasing power safety and efficiency in a number of ways: stabilizing voltage fluctuations; raising or lowering voltage levels; providing isolation. Their versatility enables them to operate from frequencies of one Hertz to Gigahertz and with power levels from micro-Amps to mega Amps. This, combined with voltage, power, frequency and mechanical requirements, means the possibilities for transformer designs are infinite.
In this guide, we’ll discuss how to navigate through those myriad possibilities and examine the pros and cons of custom versus standard transformers.
