davetranter
Well-known member
Re: Transformer
'Big' - Not necessarily.... 1/4 Cu ft max...
'Heavy' - Certainly!! (for it's size)
My thought on a transformer is that it's a useful piece of kit to have around. Depending on the type bought, it can transform up, down, or 'the same, but isolated'. I'm not sure how common 'Earth Leakage' circuit breakers (ELCBs)are in the U.S., but here they've been mandatory for domestic installations since (I think) the early 1990s. Generally, they are a 'good thing', but can cause problems through 'nuisance tripping', especially where there are lots of modern 'electronica' in use, all with high leakage 'switch mode' power supplies. Another problem is that a single appliance with a 'slight' fault will cut the power to the entire home. A neighbour of mine had a 'pinhole' in the heater of her washing machine, such that it would 'trip' the ELCB upon the first usage in the morning. I lent her my transformer, so that she could continue to use the machine until she could arrange a repair. As a young mother with a large family, having no usable washing machine was not an option... ;-)
The 7500W transformer that I have is a specialist 'ultra-isolation' type with a VERY large iron core. It's weight is such that I can no longer (as I get older) lift it from the floor unassisted, but can still carry it from one table/bench to another. I would guess that it's about 150-180 lbs. Lighter types are available... Check Ebay, etc.
All best
Dave T
P.S. For those interested, mine has four windings - Two Primaries, Two Secondaries, which can be series or parallel connected, hence the up/down/same capability. The oversize core helps to filter electical 'noise' by losing it in 'Iron Loss'. There is full screening between the windings to provide coupling of 30pF equivalent or less. It was designed (I think) to supply an 'isolated' laboratory.
'Big' - Not necessarily.... 1/4 Cu ft max...
'Heavy' - Certainly!! (for it's size)
My thought on a transformer is that it's a useful piece of kit to have around. Depending on the type bought, it can transform up, down, or 'the same, but isolated'. I'm not sure how common 'Earth Leakage' circuit breakers (ELCBs)are in the U.S., but here they've been mandatory for domestic installations since (I think) the early 1990s. Generally, they are a 'good thing', but can cause problems through 'nuisance tripping', especially where there are lots of modern 'electronica' in use, all with high leakage 'switch mode' power supplies. Another problem is that a single appliance with a 'slight' fault will cut the power to the entire home. A neighbour of mine had a 'pinhole' in the heater of her washing machine, such that it would 'trip' the ELCB upon the first usage in the morning. I lent her my transformer, so that she could continue to use the machine until she could arrange a repair. As a young mother with a large family, having no usable washing machine was not an option... ;-)
The 7500W transformer that I have is a specialist 'ultra-isolation' type with a VERY large iron core. It's weight is such that I can no longer (as I get older) lift it from the floor unassisted, but can still carry it from one table/bench to another. I would guess that it's about 150-180 lbs. Lighter types are available... Check Ebay, etc.
All best
Dave T
P.S. For those interested, mine has four windings - Two Primaries, Two Secondaries, which can be series or parallel connected, hence the up/down/same capability. The oversize core helps to filter electical 'noise' by losing it in 'Iron Loss'. There is full screening between the windings to provide coupling of 30pF equivalent or less. It was designed (I think) to supply an 'isolated' laboratory.