AC1 Fundamentals Unit 5 – Transformers
The coils of a transformer are often wound around an iron or ferrite core that concentrates the
magnetic field. This core improves the transfer of energy, or coupling, from the primary to the
secondary.
Above are various transformer schematic symbols.
The presence or absence of lines between the coils indicates the type of core used.
This figure shows an iron-cored transformer with a tapped secondary. This tap may be used to
alter the turns ratio between the two coils.
A transformer may contain one or several taps on the primary, on the secondary, or on both
windings.
Transformers come in all sizes. The transformer you will use in this unit weighs only a few
ounces. However, some transformers used by power companies weigh several tons.