Knowing Transformers Better

You would have been, even often heard term of “Transformer”. Hey, we are not talking about the hostility between Autobot and Decepticon in a movie, but this is about a power tool or an electrical tool. In Indonesia, people called them Trafo or Tranformator. 

The transformer is a power tool that can change (raising and lowering) the power supply voltage level to another level. For example, raising the voltage of 110VAC to 220 VAC, or conversely, lowering the voltage of 220VAC to 110 VAC. This power tool only works on fast-voltage alternating (AC or stands for Alternating Current). It is using the principle of Electromagnetic Induction. The role of the transformer is very important in the process of electricity distribution.

Transformer increased the voltage of electricity derived from the power plant (PLN) to hundreds kV (kilo volts) for being distributed to houses and offices. A house or an office generally only uses a voltage of 220 Volt. For that there is the role of the other transformer which lowers the voltage according to the needs of each house or office.

As you can see, in its body there is a transformer coil or coil of wire that is insulated. In simple version of transformer usually consists of two coils, namely primary and secondary. Generally, these coils wound on iron called iron core.

Let’s see how the transformer works. The primary coil is energized will cause alternating magnetic field in the vicinity. The strong or weak of magnetic field is influenced by the amount of electric current. The magnetic field will be even greater if the electric current is getting big, and vice versa.

Fluctuation in the magnetic field strength that goes around the primary coil induces the Electro Motive Force (EMF) at the secondary coil. This will lead to a transfer of power from the primary coil to the secondary one. This can lead to a change in electrical voltage levels, from low voltage to high voltage, and vice versa.