How to Build a Single Phase Step Down Transformer 220/24V with Step by Step Procedure

Good day Steemians! Today, I will be discussing about how to make a single phase transformer but before we start lets all know about the Step down transformer transformer.

What is a step down transformer? is one whose secondary voltage is less than its primary voltage. It is designed to reduce the voltage from the primary winding to the secondary winding. This kind of transformer “steps down” the voltage applied to it.

As a step-down unit, the transformer converts high-voltage, low-current power into low-voltage, high-current power. The larger-gauge wire used in the secondary winding is necessary due to the increase in current. The primary winding, which doesn’t have to conduct as much current, may be made of smaller-gauge wire.

The winding which takes electrical power from the source, is generally known as primary winding of transformer and the winding which gives the desired output voltage due to mutual induction in the transformer, is commonly known as secondary winding of transformer.

The above mentioned form of transformer is theoretically possible but not practically, because in open air very tiny portion of the flux of the first winding will link with second; so the current that flows through the closed circuit of later, will be so small in amount that it will be difficult to measure.
The rate of change of flux linkage depends upon the amount of linked flux with the second winding. So, it is desired to be linked to almost all flux of primary winding to the secondary winding. This is effectively and efficiently done by placing one low reluctance path common to both of the winding. This low reluctance path is core of transformer, through which maximum number of flux produced by the primary is passed through and linked with the secondary winding.

A step down transformer has less turns on the secondary coil that the primary coil. The induced voltage across the secondary coil is less the applied voltage across the primary coil or in other words the voltage is “stepped-down”.

Our main objectives of this tutorial:
• Understand the concept of a Step-down Transformer.
• Be able to construct a step-down Transformer.
• Be able to compute the number of turns of the magnetic wire given the input voltage, output voltage and area of
the bobbin.

In this tutorial i will give a step by step procedure but before we start here are the materials that we will be needed to build a single phase step down transformer.

Materials:

• Magnetic Wire #17
• Magnetic Wire #25
• Core
• Bobbin (Area: 3.175cm x 3.302cm)
• Duplex Wire # 16
• Male Plug
• AWG #12 Wire
• Fish Paper
• Sand Paper
• Masking Tape
• Heat-shrink Tubing
• Lighter
• Pliers/Wire Stripper
• Soldering Iron
• Soldering Lead

Computations:

To get the desired number of turns on primary winding and secondary winding we use the following computations:

Procedure

1. Prepare all the materials

2.Connect the primary winding to a #12 AWG Wire with a soldering lead and iron. Do not forget to remove the insulation of the magnetic wire with a sand paper.

3.Make sure that the two wires are properly connected. Secure the connections with a heat-shrink tubing.

4.Place the wire in the bobbin. After placing the wire, cover the first layer with a masking tape. Make sure that it is fully covered to avoid losses.

5.Begin the primary winding at the edge of the bobbin, wind it properly and firmly to maximize the space of the bobbin.

6.For every 100 turns, mark the wire with a masking tape to serve as a guide in the succeeding turns. Do this until you reach the desired number of turns of your primary winding.

7.When primary winding is finished, get a digital multimeterto check its continuity or if the two wires are connected properly.

8.To finalize the primary winding, cover the whole area with a masking tape. To avoid electrical losses, cover the whole assembly with a fish paper/waxed paper.

9.Follow the steps for the secondary winding.

10.Insert the letter ‘E’ cores to the bobbin until the space is maximized.

11.Insert the remaining letter ‘I’ cores to the transformer.

12.Using a pair of pliers or a wire stripper, cut the insulation of the wire and connect the male plug. The assembled male plug will be connected to the primary winding of the transformer and will serve as the input of the transformer.

13.Connect the plug to a 220 V AC source and use a digital multimeter to check if you have the desired output voltage.

In this experiment we were able to understand the concept of a step-down transformer, compute the number of turns on the primary and secondary winding to get the desired voltage output of the transformer and construct a step-down transformer.

Thanks for reading! Hope it will be useful to you. Godbless :)

-@jsoul