Multiple Winding Transformers

Multiple Winding Transformers
Multiple Winding Transformers

Thus far we have looked at transformers which have one single primary winding and one single secondary
winding. But the beauty of transformers is that they allow us to have more than just one winding in either the
primary or secondary side. Transformers which have more than one winding are known commonly as Multiple
Winding Transformers.
The principal of operation of a multiple winding transformer is no different from that of an ordinary
transformer. Primary and secondary voltages, currents and turns ratios are all calculated the same, the difference
this time is that we need to pay special attention to the voltage polarities of each coil winding, the dot
convention marking the positive (or negative) polarity of the winding, when we connect them together.
Multiple winding transformers, also known as a multi-coil, or multi-winding transformer, contain more than one
primary or more than one secondary coil, hence their name, on a common laminated core. They can be either a
single-phase transformer or a three-phase transformer, (multi-winding, multi-phase transformer) the operation is
the same.
Multiple Winding Transformers can also be used to provide either a step-up, a step-down, or a combination
of both between the various windings. In fact a multiple winding transformers can have several secondary
windings on the same core with each one providing a different voltage or current level output.
As transformers operate on the principal of mutual induction, each individual winding of a multiple winding
transformer supports the same number of volts per turn, therefore the volt-ampere product in each winding is
the same, that is NP/NS = VP/VS with any turns ratio between the individual coil windings being relative to the
primary supply.
In electronic circuits, one transformer is often used to supply a variety of lower voltage levels for different
components in the electronic circuitry. A typical application of multiple winding transformers is in power
supplies and Triac Switching Converters. So a transformer may have a number of different secondary windings,
each of which is electrically isolated from the others, just as it is electrically isolated from the primary. Then
each of the secondary coils will produce a voltage that is proportional to its number of coil turns for example.
Multiple Winding Transformer

Above shows an example of a typical “multiple winding transformer” which has a number of different
secondary windings supplying various voltage levels. The primary windings can be used individually or
connected together to operate the transformer from a higher supply voltages.
The secondary windings can be connected together in various configurations producing a higher voltage or
current supply. It must be noted that connecting together transformer windings is only possible if the two
windings are electrically identical. That is their current and voltage ratings are the same.
Dual Voltage Transformers

There are a number or multiple winding transformers available which have two primary windings of identical
voltage and current ratings and two secondary windings also with identical voltage and current ratings. These
transformers are designed so that they can be used in a variety of applications with the windings connected
together in either a series or parallel combinations for higher primary voltages or secondary currents. These
types of multiple winding transformers are more commonly called Dual Voltage Transformers as shown.
Dual Primary & Dual Secondary Transformer.
Here the transformer has two primary windings and two secondary windings, four in total. The connections to
the primary or secondary windings must be made correctly with dual voltage transformers. If connected
improperly, it is possible to create a dead short that will usually destroy the transformer when it is energized.
We said previously that dual voltage transformers can be connected to operate from power supplies of different
voltage levels, hence their name “dual voltage transformers”. Then for example, lets say that the primary
winding could have a voltage rating of 240/120V on the primary and 12/24V on the secondary. To achieve this,
each of the two primary windings is, therefore, rated at 120V, and each secondary winding is rated at 12V. The
transformer must be connected so that each primary winding receives the proper voltage. Consider the circuit
below.
Series Connected Secondary Transformer.

Here in this example, the two 120V rated primary windings are connected together in series across a 240V
supply as the two windings are identical, half the supply voltage, namely 120V, is dropped across each winding
and the same primary current flows through both. The two secondary windings rated at 12V, 2.5A each are
connected in series with the secondary terminal voltage being the sum of the two individual winding voltages
giving 24 Volts.
As the two windings are connected in series, the same amount of current flows through each winding, then the
secondary current is the same at 2.5 Amps. So for a series connected secondary, the output in our example
above is rated at 24 Volts, 2.5 Amps. Consider the parallel connected transformer below.
Parallel Connected Secondary Transformer.
Here we have kept the two primary windings the same but the two secondary windings are now connected in a
parallel combination. As before, the two secondary windings are rated at 12V, 2.5A each, therefore the
secondary terminal voltage will be the same at 12 Volts but the current adds. Then for a parallel connected
secondary, the output in our example above is rated at 12 Volts, 5.0 Amps.
Of course different dual voltage transformers will produce different amounts of secondary voltage and current
but the principal is the same. Secondary windings must be correctly connected together to produce the required
voltage or current output.
Dot orientation is used on the windings to indicate the terminals that have the same phase relationship. For
example connecting two secondary windings together in opposite dot-orientation will cause the two magnetic
flux’s to cancel each other out resulting in zero output.
Another type of dual voltage transformer which has only one secondary winding that is “tapped” at its electrical
center point is called the Center-tap Transformer.
Center Tapped Transformers

A center-tap transformer is designed to provide two separate secondary voltages, VA and VB with a common
connection. This type of transformer configuration produces a two-phase, 3-wire supply.
The secondary voltages are the same and proportional to the supply voltage, VP, therefore power in each
winding is the same. The voltages produced across each of the secondary winding is determined by the turns
ratio as shown.
The Center-tap Transformer

Above shows a typical center-tap transformer. The tapping point is in the exact center of the secondary winding
providing a common connection for two equal but opposite secondary voltages. With the center-tap grounded,
the output VA will be positive in nature with respect to the ground, while the voltage at the other secondary, VB
will be negative and opposite in nature, that is they are 180o electrical degrees out-of-phase with each other.
However, there is one disadvantage of using an ungrounded center tapped transformer and that is it can produce
unbalanced voltages in the two secondary windings due to unsymmetrical currents flowing in the common third
connection because of unbalanced loads.
We can also produce a center-tap transformer using the dual voltage transformer from above. By connecting the
secondary windings in series, we can use the center link as the tap as shown. If the output from each secondary
is V, the total output voltage for the secondary winding will be equal to 2V as shown.
Center-tap Transformer using a Dual Voltage Transformer
Multiple Winding Transformers have many uses in electrical and electronic circuits. They can be used to
supply different secondary voltages to different loads. Have their windings connected together in series or
parallel combinations to provide higher voltages or currents, or have their secondary windings connected
together in series to produce a center tapped transformer.
In the next tutorial about Transformers we will look at how Autotransformers work and see that they have only
one main primary winding and no separate secondary winding.

Multiple Winding Transformers

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Multiple Winding Transformers

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Multiple Winding Transformers

Multiple Winding Transformers

Multiple Winding Transformer

Dual Voltage Transformers

Dual Primary & Dual Secondary Transformer.

Series Connected Secondary Transformer.

Parallel Connected Secondary Transformer.

Center Tapped Transformers

The Center-tap Transformer

Center-tap Transformer using a Dual Voltage Transformer

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