TRANSFORMER POLARITY

OBJECTIVE:

1. To determine the polarity of transformer windings.

2. To learn how to connect transformer windings in series.
3. To learn how to connect transformer windings in series opposing.

INTRODUCTION:

Transformers are alternating current devices and their polarity would appear to be of
minor importance. However, when two or more windings are connected together, the
relative instantaneous polarities have a profound effect on the resultant voltage. If the
voltage in one winding is at its positive peak when the voltage in another winding is at its
negative peak, they are opposing and the voltage measured across the individual
windings.

DISCUSSION:

When the primary winding of a transformer is energized by an ac source, an alternating

magnetic flux is established in the transformer core. This alternating flux links the turns
of each winding on the transformer, thereby inducing AC voltages in them.

When we speak of “the polarity” of transformer windings we are identifying all of the
terminals that are the same polarity (positive or negative) at any instant of time. Polarity
marks are employed to identify these terminals. These marks may be black dots, crosses,
numerals, letters or any other convenient means of showing which terminals are of the
same polarity.

When batteries or cells are connected in series, to obtain a higher output voltage, the
positive terminal of one battery must be connected to the negative terminals of the other
battery. Connected in this manner, their individual voltages will add. Similarly, if
transformer windings are to be connected in series, so that their individual voltages add,
the “polarity mark” terminal of one winding must connect to the “unmarked” terminal of
the other winding.

PROCEDURE:

STEP 1:

a) Connect the 0-40V dc meter across the variable dc output of power supply,
terminals 7 and N.

b) Turn on the power supply and slowly adjust the voltage to 20V dc.
 c) Without touching the voltage control knob, turn off the power supply and
disconnect meter.

d) Using transformer trainer connected the circuit. Note that the 40V dc meter is
connected across terminals 3 and 4.

e) Note the deflection polarity of the dc volt-meter at the moment close the power
supply switch.

f) The terminals 1 and 3 are positive in windings.

g) The two terminals 1 and 5 are positive in windings.

h) Returning the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply.

STEP 2:

a) In this procedure we will see the effect of connection two windings of a

transformer in series and importance of polarity.

b) Using transformer trainer connects the circuit such that terminals 1 and 5 are
connected together.

c) Turn on the power supply and adjust for exactly 190V ac (one half of the rated
voltage of winding 3 to 4).

d) We measure the voltage across the following terminals:

E1 to 2 = 112 V ac
E5 to 6 = 112 V ac
E2 to 6 = 000 V ac

e) Returning the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply.

f) Remove the connection between terminals 1 and 5. Connect terminals 1 and 6

together and connect the volt-meter across terminals 2 and 5.

g) Turn off the power supply and adjust for exactly 190 V ac.

h) We measure the voltages across the following terminals:

E1 to 2 = 110 V ac
E5 to 6 = 110 V ac
E2 to 5 = 220 V ac