Transformers are some of the most critical components found in electrical circuits. They are vital because they alter the voltage from input to output – literally, transforming the electrical voltage to suit the particular application it is feeding. Usually this means reducing it significantly – mains electricity arrives in homes at around 240 volts, enough to fry most domestic circuits. But in certain large-scale industrial applications, such as power stations, the voltage needs to be ‘stepped up’.

Transformers are able to do this because of a system of induction coils that create a variable magnetic flux and effectively change the speed of the incoming alternating current. If a voltage needs to be reduced, the first coil or ‘primary winding’ is denser than the secondary winding, inducing a varying electromotive force (EMF) in the secondary winding. This effect is called mutual induction.

From a device the size of a thumbnail inside a stage microphone, to huge industrial units that help send electrical energy long distances around the electricity network, transformers come in all shapes and sizes. But they operate on the same basic principle, and making use of electricity without them would be impossible.

Thank you to Vigortronix for their support for the Transformers section of The Info Zone.

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