Muuntajavirtalähteet

Muuntajavirtalähteet, often referred to as power transformers, are static electrical devices that transfer electrical energy between two or more circuits through electromagnetic induction. Their primary function is to step up or step down voltage levels. This is achieved by utilizing the principle of electromagnetic induction, where a changing magnetic field in one coil induces a voltage in another coil.

A basic transformer consists of two windings, the primary and the secondary, typically wound around a common ferromagnetic core. When an alternating voltage is applied to the primary winding, it creates a fluctuating magnetic flux in the core. This changing flux then links with the secondary winding, inducing an electromotive force (voltage) across it. The ratio of the number of turns in the primary winding to the number of turns in the secondary winding determines the voltage transformation ratio. If the secondary winding has more turns than the primary, the voltage is stepped up; if it has fewer turns, the voltage is stepped down.

Transformers are essential components in numerous electrical systems. They are crucial for efficiently transmitting electrical power over long distances, where stepping up the voltage reduces current and thus minimizes resistive losses. At the destination, the voltage is stepped down to safe and usable levels for homes and industries. They are also widely used in power supplies for electronic devices, to isolate circuits, and to match impedances. The operation of a transformer relies on alternating current; direct current does not produce a changing magnetic field and therefore cannot induce a voltage in the secondary winding.