Autotransformer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An autotransformer (sometimes called autostep down transformer)[1] is an electrical transformer with only one winding. he !auto! ("reek for !self!) prefi# refers to the single coil acting on itself and not to any kind of automatic mechanism. $n an autotransformer, portions of the same winding act as %oth the primary and secondary sides of the transformer. he winding has at least three taps where electrical connections are made. Autotransformers ha&e the ad&antages of often %eing smaller, lighter, and cheaper than typical dual'winding transformers, %ut autotransformers ha&e the disad&antage of not pro&iding electrical isolation. Autotransformers are often used to step up or step down &oltages in the 11('11)'1*( &olt range and &oltages in the **(' *+('*,( &olt range-for e#ample. pro&iding 11( or 1*(. (with taps) from *+(. input, allowing e/uipment designed for 1(( or 1*( &olts to %e used with a *+( &olt supply (as in using 01 electrical e/uipment with higher 2uropean &oltages).

Contents
[hide]

o o o o

1 3peration * 4imitations + Applications +.1 5ower transmission and distri%ution +.* Audio +.+ 6ailways , .aria%le autotransformers ,.1 .ariac rademark ) 1ee also 7 8otes 9 6eferences

Operation[edit]

1ingle'phase tapped autotransformer with output &oltage range of ,(:;11): of input

An autotransformer has a single winding with two end terminals, and one or more terminals at intermediate tap points, or a transformer in which the primary and secondary coils ha&e part or all of their turns in common. he primary &oltage is applied across two of the terminals, and the secondary &oltage taken from two terminals, almost always ha&ing one terminal in common with the primary &oltage. he primary and secondary circuits therefore ha&e a num%er of windings turns in common.[*] 1ince the &olts'per'turn is the same in %oth windings, each de&elops a &oltage in proportion to its num%er of turns. $n an autotransformer part of the current flows directly from the input to the output, and only part is transferred inducti&ely, allowing a smaller, lighter, cheaper core to %e used as well as re/uiring only a single winding. [+] 3ne end of the winding is usually connected in common to %oth the &oltage source and the electrical load. he other end of the source and load are connected to taps along the winding. <ifferent taps on the winding correspond to different &oltages, measured from the common end. $n a step'down transformer the source is usually connected across the entire winding while the load is connected %y a tap across only a portion of the winding. $n a step'up transformer, con&ersely, the load is attached across the full winding while the source is connected to a tap across a portion of the winding. As in a two'winding transformer, the ratio of secondary to primary &oltages is e/ual to the ratio of the num%er of turns of the winding they connect to. For e#ample, connecting the load %etween the middle and %ottom of the autotransformer will reduce the &oltage %y )(:. <epending on the application, that portion of the winding used solely in the higher'&oltage (lower current) portion may %e wound with wire of a smaller gauge, though the entire winding is directly connected.

Limitations[edit]
An autotransformer does not pro&ide electrical isolation %etween its windings as an ordinary transformer does= if the neutral side of the input is not at ground &oltage, the neutral side of the output will not %e either. A failure of the insulation of the windings of an autotransformer can result in full input &oltage applied to the output. Also, a %reak in the part of the winding that is used as %oth primary and secondary will result in the transformer acting as an inductor in series

with the load (which under light load conditions may result in near full input &oltage %eing applied to the output). hese are important safety considerations when deciding to use an autotransformer in a gi&en application. >ecause it re/uires %oth fewer windings and a smaller core, an autotransformer for power applications is typically lighter and less costly than a two'winding transformer, up to a &oltage ratio of a%out +?1= %eyond that range, a two'winding transformer is usually more economical.[citation needed] $n three phase power transmission applications, autotransformers ha&e the limitations of not suppressing harmonic currents and as acting as another source of ground fault currents. A large three'phase autotransformer may ha&e a !%uried! delta winding, not connected to the outside of the tank, to a%sor% some harmonic currents.[citation needed] $n practice, losses mean that %oth standard transformers and autotransformers are not perfectly re&ersi%le= one designed for stepping down a &oltage will deli&er slightly less &oltage than re/uired if it is used to step up. he difference is usually slight enough to allow re&ersal where the actual &oltage le&el is not critical. 4ike multiple'winding transformers, autotransformers use time'&arying magnetic fields to transfer power. hey re/uire alternating currents to operate properly and will not function on direct current.

Applications[edit]
Power transmission and distribution[edit]
Autotransformers are fre/uently used in power applications to interconnect systems operating at different &oltage classes, for e#ample 1+@ k. to 77 k. for transmission. Another application in industry is to adapt machinery %uilt (for e#ample) for ,@( . supplies to operate on a 7(( . supply. hey are also often used for pro&iding con&ersions %etween the two common domestic mains &oltage %ands in the world (1((.'1+(. and *((.'*)(.). he links %etween the 0A ,(( k. and *9) k. B1uper "ridB networks are normally three phase autotransformers with taps at the common neutral end. 3n long rural power distri%ution lines, special autotransformers with automatic tap'changing e/uipment are inserted as &oltage regulators, so that customers at the far end of the line recei&e the same a&erage &oltage as those closer to the source. he &aria%le ratio of the autotransformer compensates for the &oltage drop along the line. A special form of autotransformer called a zig zag is used to pro&ide grounding on three'phase systems that otherwise ha&e no connection to ground. A Cig'Cag transformer pro&ides a path for current that is common to all three phases (so' called zero sequencecurrent).

Audio[edit]
$n audio applications, tapped autotransformers are used to adapt speakers to constant'&oltage audio distri%ution systems, and forimpedance matching such as %etween a low'impedance microphone and a high'impedance amplifier input.

Railways[edit]

Main article: 25 kV AC railway electrification $n 0A railway applications, it is common to power the trains at *) k. AD. o increase the distance %etween electricity supply "rid feeder points they can %e arranged to supply a *)'('*) k. supply with the third wire (opposite phase) out of reach of the trainBs o&erhead collector pantograph. he ( . point of the supply is connected to the rail while one *) k. point is connected to the o&erhead contact wire. At fre/uent (a%out 1( km) inter&als, an autotransformer links the contact wire to rail and to the second (antiphase) supply conductor. his system increases usa%le transmission distance, reduces induced interference into e#ternal e/uipment and reduces cost. A &ariant is occasionally seen where the supply conductor is at a different &oltage to the contact wire with the autotransformer ratio modified to suit. [,]

Variable autotransformers[edit]

A &aria%le autotransformer, with a sliding'%rush secondary connection and a toroidal core. Do&er has %een remo&ed to show copper windings and %rush.

.aria%le ransformer ' part of ektroni# )97 Dur&e racer

As with two'winding transformers, autotransformers may %e e/uipped with many taps and automatic switchgear to allow them to act as automatic &oltage regulators, to maintain a steady &oltage at the customersB ser&ice during a wide range of load conditions. hey can also %e used to simulate low line conditions for testing. Another application is a lighting dimmerthat doesnBt produce the 2E$ typical of most thyristor dimmers.

>y e#posing part of the winding coils and making the secondary connection through a sliding %rush, a continuously &aria%le turns ratio can %e o%tained, allowing for &ery smooth control of &oltage. Applica%le only for relati&ely low &oltage designs, this de&ice is known as a &aria%le AD transformer (often referred to %y the trademark name .ariac). he output &oltage is not limited to the discrete &oltages represented %y actual num%er of turns. he &oltage can %e smoothly &aried %etween turns as the %rush has a relati&ely high resistance (compared with a metal contact) and the actual output &oltage is a function of the relati&e area of %rush in contact with adFacent windings.
[)]

ypically the primary connection connects to

only a part of the winding allowing the output &oltage to %e &aried smoothly from Cero to a%o&e the input &oltage and thus allowing the de&ice to %e used for testing electrical e/uipment at the limits of its specified &oltage range.

Variac Trademark[edit]
From 1G+, to *((*, Variac was a 0.1. trademark of "eneral 6adio for a &aria%le autotransformer intended to con&eniently &ary the output &oltage for a steady AD input &oltage. $n *((,, $nstrument 1er&ice 2/uipment applied for and o%tained the Variac trademark for the same type of product.[7]

See also[edit]