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Q:
what will happen if we provide DC to the transformer in stead of AC?
- jasjit singh (age 22)
new delhi,delhi,india
A:
It won't work, you won't get any output. All you get is a heating up of the transformer due to the resistance of the primary winding. The reason is that a transformer works on the principle that a changing magnetic flux will induce a voltage in a loop of wire encircling that flux. This is known as Faraday's Law of Induction. You can read about it in any elementary E and M text. So, no change in flux --> no induced voltage.
LeeH
(published on 08/18/2011)
Follow-Up #1: AC and DC voltages as inputs to a transformer
Q:
can a transformer work on a variable dc supply? say output of a full wave rectifier.
also, what will happen if a triangular AC waveform is used as an excitation in a transformer?
- Suyash (age 20)
Bhilai
A:
I've marked your question as a follow-up to one we have already answered.
The short answer is that only the AC component of a mixed AC-DC input will be passed.
Wikipedia also has a nice description of how a transformer works:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer
LeeH
(published on 12/21/11)
Follow-up on this answer.
