Electrical transformers are part of our everyday lives, and if you look around your home, you’ll see many of them. However, most of these devices operate behind the scenes. Transformers take in standard house voltage and lower it so you can operate things on low voltage. This saves a lot of money on batteries. They can also raise the voltage so televisions and microwave ovens make our lives more pleasant. But there are many things you may not know about these amazing devices, and here are 4 things to think about.
1. Electrical Transformers Go Back More Than a Century
Many people think that electrical devices like transformers are relatively new inventions, but this is not the case. In fact, their history goes back to somewhere around 1830. That’s when the principle of electrical induction was discovered by Michael Faraday. Yet, the first commercial transformer didn’t appear until William Stanley introduced one in 1886.
2. Transformers Transfer Voltage Wirelessly
Many people do not realize how transformers work, but it’s quite simple, and it happens wirelessly. For example, take two coils of wire wrapped around metal cores and place them close together but not touching. Run electricity through one coil, and it magically transfers to the other coil. If the second coil has 50 percent fewer windings than the first coil, the voltage is cut in half when it leaves the second coil.
3. Some Transformers Look Like Donuts
Most people think of the standard “E core” transformers with their classic square shape. However, toroidal transformers are donut shaped. Donut devices don’t give you that electrical “hum” and they provide less interference, making them perfect for many electronic devices today.
4. You Can Have Electrical Transformers Custom-made
When you want the perfect transformer component for your products, you can visit your inductance specialists. They can create the perfect prototype for research and development.