Transformer types

A variety of types of electrical transformer are made for different

purposes. Despite their design differences, the various types Circuit symbols
employ the same basic principle as discovered in 1831 by Transformer with two
windings and iron core.
Michael Faraday, and share several key functional parts.
Transformer with three
windings. The dots show
the relative configuration
Contents of the windings.
Transformer with
Power transformer
electrostatic screen
Laminated core
preventing capacitive
Toroidal
coupling between the
Autotransformer
windings.
Variable autotransformer
Induction regulator
Polyphase transformer
Grounding transformer
Phase-shifting transformer
Variable-frequency transformer
Leakage or stray field transformer
Uses
Resonant transformer
Constant voltage transformer
Ferrite core
Planar transformer In an electric arc furnace, the
Oil-cooled transformer transformer has a heavy copper bus
Cast resin transformer for the low voltage winding, which
Isolating transformer can be rated for tens of thousands of
Solid-state transformer amperes. Winding beginnings and
ends are led out separately and
Instrument transformer "interleaved" for the external delta
Current transformer
closure in a Knapsack connection[1].
Voltage transformer or potential transformer The transformers are immersed in oil
Combined instrument transformer for cooling and insulation, and are
Pulse transformer designed to withstand frequent short
circuits.
RF transformer
Air-core transformer
Ferrite-core transformer
Transmission-line transformer
Balun
IF transformer
Audio transformer
Loudspeaker transformer
Output transformer
Small-signal transformer
Interstage and coupling transformer
Other types
 Transactor
Hedgehog
Variometer and variocoupler
Rotary transformer
Variable differential transformer
Resolver and synchro
Piezoelectric transformer
See also
References

Power transformer

Laminated core
This is the most common type of transformer, widely used in electric power
transmission and appliances to convert mains voltage to low voltage to power
electronic devices. They are available in power ratings ranging from mW to
MW. The insulated laminations minimizes eddy current losses in the iron core.

Small appliance and electronic transformers may use a split bobbin, giving a
high level of insulation between the windings. The rectangular cores are made
up of stampings, often in E-I shape pairs, but other shapes are sometimes used.
Shields between primary and secondary may be fitted to reduce EMI Laminated core transformer
(electromagnetic interference), or a screen winding is occasionally used.

Small appliance and electronics transformers may have a thermal cut-out built into the winding, to shut-off power at high
temperatures to prevent further overheating.

Toroidal
Donut-shaped toroidal transformers save space compared to E-I cores, and may
reduce external magnetic field. These use a ring shaped core, copper windings
wrapped round this ring (and thus threaded through the ring during winding),
and tape for insulation.

Toroidal transformers have a lower external magnetic field compared to

rectangular transformers, and can be smaller for a given power rating. However,
they cost more to make, as winding requires more complex and slower
equipment.

They can be mounted by a bolt through the center, using washers and rubber Toroidal transformer
pads or by potting in resin.

Autotransformer
An autotransformer consist only one winding that is tapped at some point along the winding. Voltage is applied across a
terminal of the winding, and a higher (or lower) voltage is produced across another portion of the same winding. The equivalent
power rating of the autotransfomer is lower than the actual load power rating. It is calculated by: load VA × (|Vin – Vout|)/Vin.[2]
For example, an auto transformer that adapts a 1000 VA load rated at 120 volts to a 240 volt supply has an equivalent rating of at
least: 1,000 VA (240 V – 120 V) / 240 V = 500 VA. However, the actual rating (shown on the tally plate) must be at least
1000 VA.

For voltage ratios that don't exceed about 3:1, an autotransformer is cheaper, lighter, smaller, and more efficient than an isolating
(two-winding) transformer of the same rating.[3] Large three-phase autotransformers are used in electric power distribution
systems, for example, to interconnect 33 kV and 66 kV sub-transmission networks.

Variable autotransformer
By exposing part of the winding coils of an autotransformer, and making the
secondary connection through a sliding carbon brush, an autotransformer with a
near-continuously variable turns ratio can be obtained, allowing for wide voltage
adjustment in very small increments.

Induction regulator
The induction regulator is similar in design to a wound-rotor induction motor but
it is essentially a transformer whose output voltage is varied by rotating its
secondary relative to the primary—i.e., rotating the angular position of the rotor.
It can be seen as a power transformer exploiting rotating magnetic fields. The
major advantage of the induction regulator is that unlike variacs, they are Variable autotransformer
practical for transformers over 5 kVA. Hence, such regulators find widespread
use in high-voltage laboratories. [4]

Polyphase transformer
For polyphase systems, multiple single-phase transformers can be used, or all
phases can be connected to a single polyphase transformer. For a three phase
transformer, the three primary windings are connected together and the three
secondary windings are connected together.[5] Examples of connections are wye-
delta, delta-wye, delta-delta, and wye-wye. A vector group indicates the
configuration of the windings and the phase angle difference between them. If a
winding is connected to earth (grounded), the earth connection point is usually
the center point of a wye winding. If the secondary is a delta winding, the
A high-voltage transformer being
ground may be connected to a center tap on one winding (high leg delta) or one dismantled
phase may be grounded (corner grounded delta). A special purpose polyphase
transformer is the zigzag transformer. There are many possible configurations
that may involve more or fewer than six windings and various tap connections.

Grounding transformer
Grounding or earthing transformers let three wire (delta) polyphase system supplies accommodate phase to neutral loads by
providing a return path for current to a neutral. Grounding transformers most commonly incorporate a single winding transformer
with a zigzag winding configuration but may also be created with a wye-delta isolated winding transformer connection.

Phase-shifting transformer
This is a specialized type of transformer which can be configured to adjust the phase
relationship between input and output. This allows power flow in an electric grid to be
controlled, e.g. to steer power flows away from a shorter (but overloaded) link to a longer path
with excess capacity.

Variable-frequency transformer
A variable-frequency transformer is a specialized three-phase power transformer which
allows the phase relationship between the input and output windings to be continuously
adjusted by rotating one half. They are used to interconnect electrical grids with the same
nominal frequency but without synchronous phase coordination.

Leakage or stray field transformer Cutaway view of a

A leakage transformer, also called a stray-field transformer, has a significantly higher leakage polyphase transformer
inductance than other transformers, sometimes increased by a magnetic bypass or shunt in its
core between primary and secondary, which is sometimes adjustable with a set
screw. This provides a transformer with an inherent current limitation due to the
loose coupling between its primary and the secondary windings. In this case, it is
short-circuit inductance which is actually acting as a current limiting parameter.
The output and input currents are low enough to prevent thermal overload under
all load conditions—even if the secondary is shorted. Three-phase transformers 380
kV/110 kV and 110 kV/20 kV

Uses
Leakage transformers are used for arc welding and high voltage discharge lamps
(neon lights and cold cathode fluorescent lamps, which are series connected up
to 7.5 kV AC). It acts then both as a voltage transformer and as a magnetic
ballast.

Other applications are short-circuit-proof extra-low voltage transformers for toys

or doorbell installations.

Resonant transformer
A resonant transformer is a transformer in which one or both windings has a
capacitor across it and functions as a tuned circuit. Used at radio frequencies,
resonant transformers can function as high Q factor bandpass filters. The
transformer windings have either air or ferrite cores and the bandwidth can be
Leakage transformer
adjusted by varying the coupling (mutual inductance). One common form is the
IF (intermediate frequency) transformer, used in superheterodyne radio
receivers. They are also used in radio transmitters.

Resonant transformers are also used in electronic ballasts for gas discharge lamps, and high voltage power supplies. They are also
used in some types of switching power supplies.[6] Here the short-circuit inductance value is an important parameter that
determines the resonance frequency of the resonant transformer. Often only secondary winding has a resonant capacitor (or stray
capacitance) and acts as a serial resonant tank circuit. When the short-circuit inductance of the secondary side of the transformer
is Lsc and the resonant capacitor (or stray capacitance) of the secondary side is Cr, The resonance frequency ωs of 1' is as follows
The transformer is driven by a pulse or square wave for efficiency, generated by an electronic oscillator circuit. Each pulse serves
to drive resonant sinusoidal oscillations in the tuned winding, and due to resonance a high voltage can be developed across the
secondary.

Applications:

Intermediate frequency (IF) transformer in superheterodyne radio receiver

Tank transformers in radio transmitters
Tesla coil
CCFL inverter
Oudin coil (or Oudin resonator; named after its inventor Paul Oudin)
D'Arsonval apparatus
Ignition coil or induction coil used in the ignition system of a petrol engine
Electrical breakdown and insulation testing of high voltage equipment and cables. In the latter case, the
transformer's secondary is resonated with the cable's capacitance.

Constant voltage transformer

By arranging particular magnetic properties of a transformer core, and installing a ferro-resonant tank circuit (a capacitor and an
additional winding), a transformer can be arranged to automatically keep the secondary winding voltage relatively constant for
varying primary supply without additional circuitry or manual adjustment. Ferro-resonant transformers run hotter than standard
power transformers, because regulating action depends on core saturation, which reduces efficiency. The output waveform is
heavily distorted unless careful measures are taken to prevent this. Saturating transformers provide a simple rugged method to
stabilize an AC power supply.

Ferrite core
Ferrite core power transformers are widely used in switched-mode power supplies (SMPSs). The powder core enables high-
frequency operation, and hence much smaller size-to-power ratio than laminated-iron transformers.

Ferrite transformers are not used as power transformers at mains frequency since laminated iron cores cost less than an equivalent
ferrite core.

Planar transformer
Manufacturers either use flat copper sheets or etch spiral patterns on a
printed circuit board to form the "windings" of a planar transformer,
replacing the turns of wire used to make other types. Some planar
transformers are commercially sold as discrete components, other planar
transformers are etched directly into the main printed circuit board and
only need a ferrite core to be attached over the PCB. A planar transformer
can be thinner than other transformers, which is useful for low-profile
applications or when several printed circuit boards are stacked.[7] Almost
all planar transformers use a ferrite planar core.

A planar transformer
Oil-cooled transformer
Large transformers used in power distribution or electrical substations have
their core and coils immersed in oil, which cools and insulates. Oil
circulates through ducts in the coil and around the coil and core assembly,
moved by convection. The oil is cooled by the outside of the tank in small
ratings, and by an air-cooled radiator in larger ratings. Where a higher
rating is required, or where the transformer is in a building or underground,
oil pumps circulate the oil, and an oil-to-water heat exchanger may also be
used.[8] Some transformers may contain PCBs where or when its use was
permitted. For example, until 1979 in South Africa.[9][10] substitute fire-
resistant liquids such as silicone oils are now used instead.
Exploded view: the spiral primary
"winding" on one side of the PCB (the
Cast resin transformer spiral secondary "winding" is on the other
side of the PCB)
Cast-resin power transformers encase the windings in epoxy resin. These
transformers simplify installation since they are dry, without cooling oil,
and so require no fire-proof vault for indoor installations. The epoxy protects the windings from dust and corrosive atmospheres.
However, because the molds for casting the coils are only available in fixed sizes, the design of the transformers is less flexible,
which may make them more costly if customized features (voltage, turns ratio, taps) are required.[11][12]

Isolating transformer
An isolation transformer links two circuits magnetically, but provides no metallic conductive path between the circuits. An
example application would be in the power supply for medical equipment, when it is necessary to prevent any leakage from the
AC power system into devices connected to a patient. Special purpose isolation transformers may include shielding to prevent
coupling of electromagnetic noise between circuits, or may have reinforced insulation to withstand thousands of volts of potential
difference between primary and secondary circuits.

Solid-state transformer
A solid-state transformer is actually a power converter that performs the same function as a conventional transformer, sometimes
with added functionality. Most contain a smaller high-frequency transformer. It can consist of an AC-to-AC converter, or a
rectifier powering an inverter.

Instrument transformer
Instrument transformers are typically used to operate instruments from high voltage lines or high current circuits, safely isolating
measurement and control circuitry from the high voltages or currents. The primary winding of the transformer is connected to the
high voltage or high current circuit, and the meter or relay is connected to the secondary circuit. Instrument transformers may also
be used as an isolation transformer so that secondary quantities may be used without affecting the primary circuitry.[13]

Terminal identifications (either alphanumeric such as H1, X1, Y1, etc. or a colored spot or dot impressed in the case) indicate one
end of each winding, indicating the same instantaneous polarity and phase between windings. This applies to both types of
instrument transformers. Correct identification of terminals and wiring is essential for proper operation of metering and protective
relay instrumentation.

Current transformer
A current transformer (CT) is a series connected measurement device
designed to provide a current in its secondary coil proportional to the
current flowing in its primary. Current transformers are commonly used in
metering and protective relays in the electrical power industry.

Current transformers are often constructed by passing a single primary turn

(either an insulated cable or an uninsulated bus bar) through a well-
Current transformers used in metering
insulated toroidal core wrapped with many turns of wire. The CT is
equipment for three-phase 400 ampere
typically described by its current ratio from primary to secondary. For electricity supply
example, a 1000:1 CT provides an output current of 1 amperes when 1000
amperes flow through the primary winding. Standard secondary current
ratings are 5 amperes or 1 ampere, compatible with standard measuring instruments. The secondary winding can be single ratio or
have several tap points to provide a range of ratios. Care must be taken to make sure the secondary winding is not disconnected
from its low-impedance load while current flows in the primary, as this may produce a dangerously high voltage across the open
secondary and may permanently affect the accuracy of the transformer.

Specially constructed wideband CTs are also used, usually with an oscilloscope, to measure high frequency waveforms or pulsed
currents within pulsed power systems. One type provides a voltage output that is proportional to the measured current. Another,
called a Rogowski coil, requires an external integrator in order to provide a proportional output.

A current clamp uses a current transformer with a split core that can be easily wrapped around a conductor in a circuit. This is a
common method used in portable current measuring instruments but permanent installations use more economical types of
current transformer.

Voltage transformer or potential transformer

Voltage transformers (VT), also called potential transformers (PT), are a parallel connected type of instrument transformer, used
for metering and protection in high-voltage circuits or phasor phase shift isolation. They are designed to present negligible load to
the supply being measured and to have an accurate voltage ratio to enable accurate metering. A potential transformer may have
several secondary windings on the same core as a primary winding, for use in different metering or protection circuits. The
primary may be connected phase to ground or phase to phase. The secondary is usually grounded on one terminal.

There are three primary types of voltage transformers (VT): electromagnetic, capacitor, and optical. The electromagnetic voltage
transformer is a wire-wound transformer. The capacitor voltage transformer uses a capacitance potential divider and is used at
higher voltages due to a lower cost than an electromagnetic VT. An optical voltage transformer exploits the electrical properties
of optical materials.[14] Measurement of high voltages is possible by the potential transformers. An optical voltage transformer is
not strictly a transformer, but a sensor similar to a Hall effect sensor.

Combined instrument transformer

A combined instrument transformer encloses a current transformer and a voltage transformer in the same transformer. There are
two main combined current and voltage transformer designs: oil-paper insulated and SF6 insulated.[15] One advantage of
applying this solution is reduced substation footprint, due to reduced number of transformers in a bay, supporting structures and
connections as well as lower costs for civil works, transportation and installation.[16]

Pulse transformer
A pulse transformer is a transformer that is optimised for transmitting
rectangular electrical pulses (that is, pulses with fast rise and fall times and a
relatively constant amplitude). Small versions called signal types are used in
digital logic and telecommunications circuits, often for matching logic drivers to
transmission lines. Medium-sized power versions are used in power-control
circuits such as camera flash controllers. Larger power versions are used in the
electrical power distribution industry to interface low-voltage control circuitry to
the high-voltage gates of power semiconductors. Special high voltage pulse
transformers are also used to generate high power pulses for radar, particle
Bothhand TS6121A pulse
accelerators, or other high energy pulsed power applications.[17]
transformer
To minimize distortion of the pulse shape, a pulse transformer needs to have low
values of leakage inductance and distributed capacitance, and a high open-circuit
inductance. In power-type pulse transformers, a low coupling capacitance (between the primary and secondary) is important to
protect the circuitry on the primary side from high-powered transients created by the load. For the same reason, high insulation
resistance and high breakdown voltage are required. A good transient response is necessary to maintain the rectangular pulse
shape at the secondary, because a pulse with slow edges would create switching losses in the power semiconductors.

The product of the peak pulse voltage and the duration of the pulse (or more accurately, the voltage-time integral) is often used to
characterise pulse transformers. Generally speaking, the larger this product, the larger and more expensive the transformer.

Pulse transformers by definition have a duty cycle of less than 0.5; whatever energy stored in the coil during the pulse must be
"dumped" out before the pulse is fired again.

RF transformer
There are several types of transformer used in radio frequency (RF) work. Laminated steel is not suitable for RF.

Air-core transformer
These are used for high frequency work. The lack of a core means very low inductance. All current excites current and induces
secondary voltage which is proportional to the mutual inductance.[18] Such transformers may be nothing more than a few turns of
wire soldered onto a printed circuit board.

Ferrite-core transformer
Ferrite-core transformers are widely used in impedance matching transformers for RF, especially for baluns (see below) for TV
and radio antennas. Many only have one or two turns.

Transmission-line transformer
For radio frequency use, transformers are sometimes made from configurations of transmission line, sometimes bifilar or coaxial
cable, wound around ferrite or other types of core. This style of transformer gives an extremely wide bandwidth but only a limited
number of ratios (such as 1:9, 1:4 or 1:2) can be achieved with this technique.

The core material increases the inductance dramatically, thereby raising its Q factor. The cores of such transformers help improve
performance at the lower frequency end of the band. RF transformers sometimes used a third coil (called a tickler winding) to
inject feedback into an earlier (detector) stage in antique regenerative radio receivers.
In RF and microwave systems, a quarter-wave impedance transformer provides a way of matching impedances between circuits
over a limited range of frequencies, using only a length of transmission line. The line may be coaxial cable, waveguide, stripline,
or microstrip.

Balun
Baluns are transformers designed specifically to connect between balanced (non-grounded) and unbalanced (grounded) circuits.
These are sometimes made from configurations of transmission line and sometimes bifilar or coaxial cable and are similar to
transmission line transformers in construction and operation. Baluns can be designed to not only interface between balanced and
unbalanced loads, but to additionally provide impedance matching between those load types.

IF transformer
Ferrite-core transformers are widely used in (intermediate frequency) (IF) stages in superheterodyne radio receivers. They are
mostly tuned transformers, containing a threaded ferrite slug that is screwed in or out to adjust IF tuning. The transformers are
usually canned (shielded) for stability and to reduce interference.

Audio transformer
Audio transformers are those specifically designed for use in audio circuits to
carry audio signal. They can be used to block radio frequency interference or the
DC component of an audio signal, to split or combine audio signals, or to
provide impedance matching between high impedance and low impedance
circuits, such as between a high impedance tube (valve) amplifier output and a
low impedance loudspeaker, or between a high impedance instrument output and
the low impedance input of a mixing console. Audio transformers that operate
with loudspeaker voltages and current are larger than those that operate at
microphone or line level, which carry much less power. Bridge transformers
connect 2-wire and 4-wire communication circuits.

Being magnetic devices, audio transformers are susceptible to external magnetic

Two speaker-level audio
fields such as those generated by AC current-carrying conductors. "Hum" is a
transformers in a tube amplifier are
term commonly used to describe unwanted signals originating from the "mains" seen on the left. The power supply
power supply (typically 50 or 60 Hz).[19] Audio transformers used for low-level toroidal transformer is on right
signals, such as those from microphones, often include magnetic shielding to
protect against extraneous magnetically coupled signals.

Audio transformers were originally designed to connect different telephone systems to one another while keeping their respective
power supplies isolated, and are still commonly used to interconnect professional audio systems or system components, to
eliminate buzz and hum. Such transformers typically have a 1:1 ratio between the primary and the secondary. These can also be
used for splitting signals, balancing unbalanced signals, or feeding a balanced signal to unbalanced equipment. Transformers are
also used in DI boxes to convert high-impedance instrument signals (e.g., bass guitar) to low impedance signals to enable them to
connect to a microphone input on the mixing console.

A particularly critical component is the output transformer of a valve amplifier. Valve circuits for quality reproduction have long
been produced with no other (inter-stage) audio transformers, but an output transformer is needed to couple the relatively high
impedance (up to a few hundred ohms depending upon configuration) of the output valve(s) to the low impedance of a
loudspeaker. (The valves can deliver a low current at a high voltage; the speakers require high current at low voltage.) Most solid-
state power amplifiers need no output transformer at all.
Audio transformers affect the sound quality because they are non-linear. They
add harmonic distortion to the original signal, especially odd-order harmonics,
with an emphasis on third-order harmonics. When the incoming signal amplitude
is very low there is not enough level to energize the magnetic core (see
coercivity and magnetic hysteresis). When the incoming signal amplitude is very Five audio transformers for various
high the transformer saturates and adds harmonics from soft clipping.[20] line level purposes. The two black
boxes on the left contain 1:1
Another non-linearity comes from limited frequency response. For good low-
transformers for splitting signals,
frequency response a relatively large magnetic core is required; high power balancing unbalanced signals, or
handling increases the required core size. Good high-frequency response isolating two different AC ground
requires carefully designed and implemented windings without excessive systems to eliminate buzz and hum.
leakage inductance or stray capacitance. All this makes for an expensive The two cylindrical metal cases fit
component. into octal sockets; each one contains
a 1:1 line transformer, the first is
Early transistor audio power amplifiers often had output transformers, but they rated at 600 ohms, the second is
rated at 15,000 ohms. On the far
were eliminated as advances in semiconductors allowed the design of amplifiers
right is a DI unit; its 12:1 transformer
with sufficiently low output impedance to drive a loudspeaker directly.
(with yellow insulation) changes a
high impedance unbalanced input to
a low impedance balanced output.
Loudspeaker transformer
In the same way that transformers create high voltage power transmission
circuits that minimize transmission losses, loudspeaker transformers can power
many individual loudspeakers from a single audio circuit operated at higher than
normal loudspeaker voltages. This application is common in public address
applications. Such circuits are commonly referred to as constant-voltage speaker
systems. Such systems are also known by the nominal voltage of the loudspeaker
line, such as 25-, 70- and 100-volt speaker systems (the voltage corresponding to
the power rating of a speaker or amplifier). A transformer steps up the output of
the system's amplifier to the distribution voltage. At the distant loudspeaker
locations, a step-down transformer matches the speaker to the rated voltage of Loudspeaker transformer in old radio
the line, so the speaker produces rated nominal output when the line is at
nominal voltage. Loudspeaker transformers commonly have multiple primary
taps to adjust the volume at each speaker in steps.

Output transformer
Valve (tube) amplifiers almost always use an output transformer to match the high load impedance requirement of the valves
(several kilohms) to a low impedance speaker

Small-signal transformer
Moving coil phonograph cartridges produce a very small voltage. For this to be amplified with a reasonable signal-noise ratio
usually requires a transformer to convert the voltage to the range of the more common moving-magnet cartridges.

Microphones may also be matched to their load with a small transformer, which is mumetal shielded to minimise noise pickup.
These transformers are less widely used today, as transistorized buffers are now cheaper.

Interstage and coupling transformer

In a push–pull amplifier, an inverted signal is required and can be obtained from a transformer with a center-tapped winding, used
to drive two active devices in opposite phase. These phase splitting transformers are not much used today.

Other types

Transactor
A transactor is a combination of a transformer and a reactor. A transactor has an iron core with an air-gap, which limits the
coupling between windings.[21]

Hedgehog
Hedgehog transformers are occasionally encountered in homemade 1920s radios. They are homemade audio interstage coupling
transformers.

Enameled copper wire is wound round the central half of the length of a bundle of insulated iron wire (e.g., florists' wire), to
make the windings. The ends of the iron wires are then bent around the electrical winding to complete the magnetic circuit, and
the whole is wrapped with tape or string to hold it together.

Variometer and variocoupler

A variometer is a type of continuously variable air-core RF inductor with two windings.[22]
One common form consisted of a coil wound on a short hollow cylindrical form, with a
second smaller coil inside, mounted on a shaft so its magnetic axis can be rotated with respect
to the outer coil. The two coils are connected in series. When the two coils are collinear, with
their magnetic fields pointed in the same direction, the two magnetic fields add, and the
inductance is maximum. If the inner coil is rotated so its axis is at an angle to the outer coil,
the magnetic fields do not add and the inductance is less. If the inner coil is rotated so it is
collinear with the outer coil but their magnetic fields point in opposite directions, the fields
cancel each other out and the inductance is very small or zero. The advantage of the
variometer is that inductance can be adjusted continuously, over a wide range. Variometers
were widely used in 1920s radio receivers. One of their main uses today is as antenna Variometer used in
matching coils to match longwave radio transmitters to their antennas. 1920s radio receiver

The vario-coupler was a device with similar construction, but the two coils were not
connected but attached to separate circuits. So it functioned as an air-core RF transformer with variable coupling. The inner coil
could be rotated from 0° to 90° angle with the outer, reducing the mutual inductance from maximum to near zero.

The pancake coil variometer was another common construction used in both 1920s receivers and transmitters. It consists of two
flat spiral coils suspended vertically facing each other, hinged at one side so one could swing away from the other to an angle of
90° to reduce the coupling. The flat spiral design served to reduce parasitic capacitance and losses at radio frequencies.

Pancake or "honeycomb" coil vario-couplers were used in the 1920s in the common Armstrong or "tickler" regenerative radio
receivers. One coil was connected to the detector tube's grid circuit. The other coil, the "tickler" coil was connected to the tube's
plate (output) circuit. It fed back some of the signal from the plate circuit into the input again, and this positive feedback
increased the tube's gain and selectivity.

Rotary transformer
A rotary (rotatory) transformer is a specialized transformer that couples electrical signals between two parts that rotate in relation
to each other—as an alternative to slip rings, which are prone to wear and contact noise. They are commonly used in helical scan
magnetic tape applications.

Variable differential transformer

A variable differential transformer is a rugged non-contact position sensor. It has two oppositely-phased primaries which
nominally produce zero output in the secondary, but any movement of the core changes the coupling to produce a signal.

Resolver and synchro

The two-phase resolver and related three-phase synchro are rotary position sensors which work over a full 360°. The primary is
rotated within two or three secondaries at different angles, and the amplitudes of the secondary signals can be decoded into an
angle. Unlike variable differential transformers, the coils, and not just the core, move relative to each other, so slip rings are
required to connect the primary.

Resolvers produce in-phase and quadrature components which are useful for computation. Synchros produce three-phase signals
which can be connected to other synchros to rotate them in a generator/motor configuration.

Piezoelectric transformer
Two piezoelectric transducers can be mechanically coupled or integrated in one piece of material, creating a piezoelectric
transformer.

See also
Buck–boost transformer
Magnetic amplifier
Motor-generator
Saturable reactor
Tap changer
Three-phase electric power
Three-phase
Transformer

References
1. G. Volkert, K.-D. Frank (1972) "Metallurgie der Ferrolegierungen", page 131, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg,
New York ISBN 978-3-642-80580-6
2. "The basics of autotransformers" (http://ecmweb.com/content/basics-autotransformers). ECMwebs.
3. Donald G. Fink & H. Wayne Beatty. (1978). Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineers, 11th Edition. McGraw
Hill, ISBN 0-07-020974-X pp. 10–44 and 10–45.
4. T. J. Gallagher and A. J. Pearmain (1983): "High Voltage - Measurement, Testing and Design", ISBN 0-471-
90096-6
5. "3-Phase Step-Up Transformer (http://www.agilemagco.com/transformers/3-phase/step-up)", Agile Magnetics,
retrieved June 8, 2016.
6. Philips PM3311 Oscilloscope service manual Section 6.2.16 [describing the switch mode power supply],"The
unregulated d.c. voltage is applied in the form of pulses to a resonant transformer T1602..."
 7. "700+ Multiphysics Examples with Solutions and Instructions" (https://www.comsol.com/models).
www.comsol.com.
8. ANSI IEEE Standard C57.12.00 General Requirements for Liquid-Immersed Distribution, Power and Regulating
Transformers, 2000
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