Transformer

Basic Principle
A voltage is applied to one of two coils (primary coil) which are located on a common
iron core. The voltage induced in the second coil (secondary coil) and the current
flowing in it are investigated as functions of the number of turns in the coils and of the
current flowing in the primary coil.

`Related topics
Induction
A changing current in a conductor (like a coil) produces a changing magnetic field. This
time-dependent magnetic field can induce a current in a second conductor if it is placed
in this field. The emf induced in this second conductor will depend on the magnetic flux
through this conductor:
 Magnetic flux
Magnetic flux can be defined as the number of lines of force passing through a surface
normally.
Term used to describe the total amount of magnetic field in a given region. The term flux
was chosen because the power of a magnet seems to “flow” out of the magnet at one
pole and return at the other pole in a circulating pattern, as suggested by the patterns
formed by iron filings sprinkled on a paper placed over a magnet or a conductor carrying
an electric current. These patterns are called lines of induction. Although there is no
actual physical flow, the lines of induction suggest the correct mathematical description
of magnetism in terms of a field of force. The lines of induction originate on the north
pole of the magnet and end on the south pole; their direction at any point is the direction
of the magnetic field, and their density (the number of lines passing through a unit area)
gives the strength of the field. Near the poles where the lines converge, the field and the
force it produces are large; away from the poles where the lines diverge, the field and
force are progressively weaker.
represented by the Greek letter Φ (phi), is a measure of quantity of magnetism, taking
into account the strength and the extent of a magnetic field. The SI unit of magnetic flux
is the weber (in derived units: volt-seconds), and the unit of magnetic field is the weber
per square meter, or tesla.
Loaded transformer
If we connect a resistance across the 2nd coil of the transformer it is called loaded
transformer. This is done because to measure voltage across the 2nd coil by voltmeter.
Unloaded transformer
If there is no resistance across 2nd coil of the transformer it is called unloaded
transformer.
Tasks
The secondary voltage on the open circuited transformer is determined as a function
1. of the number of turns in the primary coil
2. of the number of turns in the secondary coil,
3. of the primary voltage.
The short-circuit current on the secondary side is determined
as a function
4. of the number of turns in the primary coil,
5. of the number of turns in the secondary coil,
6. of the primary current.
With the transformer loaded, the primary current is determined
as a function
7. of the secondary current,
8. of the number of turns in the secondary coil,
9. of the number of turns in the primary coil.
Required Apparatus
Coil, 140 turns, 6 tappings
Clamping device
Iron core, U-shaped, laminated
Iron core, short, laminated
Multitap transf., 14VAC/12VDC, 5A
Two-way switch, double pole
Rheostat, 10 Ohm, 5.7 A
Digital multimeter
Connecting cord, 500 mm, red
Connecting cord, 500 mm, blue
Theoretical Background

If a current I flows in a coil because of the alternating voltage

applied, then according to Maxwell’s 2nd equation the induced voltage in the coil is

Uind = – n1dФ/dt (1)

where n1 is the number of turns in the coil and .Ф is the magnetic flux density. This
voltage is opposite in polarity to U1 and there fore

U1= n1· dФ/dt

If there is a second coil (secondary coil) on the same iron core, so that the same flux
density. Passes through the secondary coil, then the induced voltage U2 is
U2 = – U1n2 /n1 (2)

From the regression line to the measured values of Fig.1.and

the exponential statement
Y = A · XB
there follows the exponent

B = 1.02 ± 0.002
From the regression line to the measured values of Fig. 2 and
the exponential statement

Y = A · XB
there follows the exponents
B1 = 1.002 ± 0.001
B2 = –0.993 ± 0.002.
If a current I2 flows in the secondary circuit, the resultant
magnetic flux is superimposed on the flux density in the primary coil: the a.c.
impendance of the primary coil decreases as a result. Therefore the current in the
primary coil increases with constant supply voltage U.
Since the flux produced by I2 in the secondary coil is equal to the flux produced by the
additional current I1 in the primary
coil, it follows that
I2 = – I1n1/n2

The quotient is called the transformation ratio.

If the load on the secondary side is purely resistive and if the

current flowing in the primary when the transformer is unloaded is small in comparison
with I1, then I1 is the total current
flowing on the primary side.
From the regression line to the measured values of Fig. 3 and
the exponential statement
Y = A · XB
there follows the exponent

B = 1.02 ± 0.01

From the regression line to the measured values of Fig. 4 and

the exponential statement

Y = A · XB

there follows the exponents

B1 = –0.989 ± 0.003
B2 = 1.025 ± 0.002.
The losses of a transformer are mainly given by the ohmic resistance of the coil, the
magnetisation and hysteresis losses of the iron core, and losses through stray fields
arising because the total primary magnetic flux does not pass through the secondary
coil, and vice versa. The inductive reactances and ohmic resistances of the primary and
secondary circuits vary because of this.
Experimental Setup ,procedure and measurement.
The experimental set-up is as shown in Fig

The multi-range meters should be connected as shown in Fig.

while the voltmeter can be used through a double-pole two-way switch for the primary
and secondary circuit.
The iron yoke should be opened only when the supply is switched off, as otherwise
excessive currents would flow.
When loading the rheostate, the maximum permissible load of 6.2 A for 8 minutes must
not be exceeded.
The power unit is non-grounded, so that the phase relationship of current and voltage
can be displayed with a dual-channel oscilloscope, if available.
At constant supply voltage, the primary current is adjusted using the rheostat in the
primary circuit, with the secondary short-circuited.
When the transformer is loaded, the rheostat is used as the load resistor in the
secondary circuit.
1. We measure the voltage and current across primary coil and current across 2nd
coil from unloaded transformer and we note 2nd voltage by using formula.
2. We perform this experiment by changing number of turns in primary coil(fixed
number of turns in 2nd coil)
3. We perform this experiment by changing number of turns in 2nd coil(fixed
number of turns in primary coil)
4. Than we attached a resistance across 2nd coil and and by changing resistance
across the primary coil we note voltage and current across primary coil and 2nd
coil and also we get 2nd voltage from formula Vp/Vs=Np/Ns (note in this task
number of turns in primary and 2nd coil are constant and also resistance across
2nd coil is constant)
FOR percentage voltage error in 2nd coil
Ip Vp Is Vs
.72 6.57 .59 5.98
.69 6.32 .57 5.74
.68 6.15 .55 5.58
.65 5.93 .53 5.38
As number of turns are same so according to formula Vp=Vs
Formula reading Voltmeter reading %error
6.57 5.98 8.98%
6.32 5.74 9.177%
6.15 5.58 6.66%
5.93 5.38 9.27%

Mean error= 8.52% volt

Results
Decreasing the voltage does not decrease the power. As the voltage goes down, the
current goes up.
We can measure the voltage of 2nd coil by voltmeter only by apply a large resistance to
2nd coil.(loaded transformer) because voltmeter only measure at that time when some
voltage drop across the circuit.