Can a transformer be used to step up dc voltage

DC/DC converters are used in several appliances used in our everyday lives. The main goal of these converters is to step up or step down the DC voltage based on the application at hand while providing voltage regulation. A step-up or boost converter is one of the simplest switch-mode converter types, increasing or boosting the input voltage based on the requirements. There are ample scenarios where there is a need for a slightly higher voltage. Read on to learn more about the basics of step-up converters and how they work. Boost Converter Basics The history of the boost converter dates back to the 1960s and was initially used to power the electronic systems on an aircraft [1]. The initial requirements demanded that these converters be as compact and efficient as possible. This emphasized the need for the design to be simple and optimum. A step-up converter consists of an inductor, a semiconductor switch, a diode, and a capacitor [2]. It requires fewer parts for implementation and is less complicated than an AC transformer. The circuit diagram of a boost or step-up converter is shown in Figure 1. Figure 1.Circuit diagram of a boost or step-up converter. Image property of EETech The main advantage of using a boost converter is its high efficiency. If well-designed, up to 99% of the input energy can be converted to useful output energy making the overall efficiency 99%. It is important to note that the design of a boost converter is mostly a compromise between the breakdown v...

• v • t • e A voltage converter is an AC and DC [ ] AC voltage conversion uses a Practical voltage converters [ ] Mains converters [ ] A common use of the voltage converter is for a device that allows appliances made for the mains voltage of one geographical region to operate in an area with different voltage. Such a device may be called a voltage converter, power converter, travel adapter, etc. Most travel adapters suitable for low-power devices such as Transformers do not change the Most mains-powered electrical equipment, though it may specify a single nominal voltage, actually has a range of tolerance above and below that point. Thus, devices usually can be used on either any voltage from approx. 100 to 120 V, or any voltage from approx. 210 to 240V. In such cases, voltage converters need only be specified to convert any voltage within one range, to a voltage within the other, rather than separate converters being needed for all possible pairs of nominal voltages (110–220, 117–220, 110–230, etc.) Converters for devices [ ] Mains converters [ ] Another requirement is to provide low-voltage electricity to a device from mains electricity; this would be done by what is usually called a power supply. Most modern electronic devices require between 1.5 and 24 volts DC; lower-powered devices at these voltages can often work either from Mobile converters [ ] Voltage converters can be used in vehicles with 12V DC outlets. A simple voltage dropper can be used to reduce the voltag...

Than a very strange but thinkable question comes what is the difference between the two and can we use a small step up transformer in place of voltage amplifier and vice-versa? Differences Transformer Amplifier Transformers are unable to amplify (step up) an ac input Voltage without reducing (stepping down) it`s current capability. Amplifier can amplify both current and Voltage at the same time. We can have 1V at 1uA to drive the input but might also get many volts at many Amps at the output. Transformer`s coil windings never requires a dc Voltage to operate. Sometimes a dc Voltage might be present in a transformer winding for auxiliaries but the dc is not required for the operation of the transformer. Amplifier almost always requires a dc working supply Voltage to operate. Transformer has more winding added to its secondary winding to obtain Voltage amplification. An Amplifier actually modulates a fixed dc source Voltage in response to an ac input Voltage to obtain output Voltage amplification. A transformer`s input current is proportional to its load current. Amplifier’s input current is normally almost independent of its load current. A transformer is like a gearbox, whereas an amplifier is like an engine. The gearbox converts energy like a transformer. Amplifier is like an engine, which consumes fuel to give output. Similarly amplifier consumed DC supply to give output. A step up transformer can amplify a specified type of input which is the sinusoidal input or time va...

Power electronic systems form an indispensable part of a huge share of devices we use on a daily basis. Portable electronic devices such as cellphones and laptops do not function without a key power electronic component called the converter. Due to the vast number of sub-circuits that are present in these complex devices, there is a need to cater to varied voltage requirements that are not the same as the battery or the AC supply that powers the device. This is where DC-DC converters come in handy and offer ways to step up or step down the voltage based on the requirements as illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 1.Step-up and step-down capability of DC-DC converters. Image used courtesy of This also compensates the system when the battery voltage decreases due to energy drain, making the system more effective, cost-efficient, and compact [1]. Read on to learn more about the history of DC-DC converters, how they work, and how they help build huge systems. A History of DC-DC Converters When semiconductor technology was in its initial stages, the conversion of direct current (DC) supply voltage to a higher voltage was done by converting it to alternating current (AC) intermediately using the vibrator, step-up transformer, and the rectifier assembly. This is feasible for low power applications. However, for higher power applications, an electric motor was needed to drive a generator of suitable voltage. Such processes turned out to consume a lot of time for setup procedures, involv...

DC – DC Converter Transformers are used in step-up or step-down converters. These transformers can be used in self-saturated or square wave driven applications and have input voltage ranges of 5V, 12V, 24V, and 48V and output Voltage up to 300 VDC. The power rating is up to 7.5 W for surface mount and up to 40W for thru-hole transformers. The thru-hole version of the transformer is magnetically shielded. Pico Electronics’ DC – DC Converter Transformers are operational over the temperature range from -55C to +105C. All transformers are MIL – PRF – 27 Grade 5 Class S. These ultra-miniature transformers are made for durability while maintaining their electrical characteristics. Custom designs are available to increase or decrease secondary voltages as well as any specific input voltages. Pico Electronics is an approved QPL source. Note: All PICO products can be modified to your specifications. Please contact us for information. To view complete series and specifications click on part number. Search Results: 246 matches based on your selection Part Number Input Voltage (VDC) Minimum Input Voltage Range (Volts) Maximum Input Voltage Range (Volts) D.C. Output Bridge (Volts) D.C. Output Full Wave (Volts) D.C. Output Dual Bridge (± Volts) Output Voltage (Volts) Max Power Out -55°C to +105°C (Watts) Max Power Out -55°C to +70°C (Watts) Approximate Switching Frequency Self-Saturated (KHz) Approximate Switching Frequency Square Wave Driven** Switching Frequency (kHz) PRIMARY INDUCTAN...

Working of a transformer is based on the principle of mutual induction. Transformer cannot step up or step down a dc voltage because there is no change in magnetic flux. When dc voltage source is applied across a primary coil of a transformer, the current in primary coil remains same, so there is no change in magnetic flux and hence no voltage is induced across the secondary coil. Hence, a step up transformer cannot be used to step up DC voltage . Observe the figures. Some statements are given below related to step-up transformer and step-down transformer. Classify them. Number of turns in primary is less than secondary. ⋅ Thick wires are used in secondary. ⋅ Thick wires are used in primary. ⋅ Voltage in secondary is high. ⋅ Voltage in secondary is low.

I got this transformer from the AC adapter of an old laptop charger, but upon inspection I could not determine why there were so many pins and also whether or not this could be used as a step-down transformer. The shown side has 4 pins and the other side has 5 pins. I did some research and came across a similar What I learned is that this is a high frequency transformer and that it most likely cannot be used as a conventional transformer. But in this situation wasn't it being used as a conventional step-down transformer in the AC adapter to step down voltage before reaching the laptop? In all likelihood, the AC adapter you're referring to uses a switching power supply to step down mains voltage to a low DC voltage. There are two ways, broadly speaking, to convert a high AC voltage to a low DC one. The first is like this: Here, a mains-frequency transformer first steps the voltage down, then it's rectified and filtered and either used as-is or regulated to a more stable voltage, whatever the circuit requires. This is how most power supplies were made in the 1990s and earlier. But mains-frequency transformers, as a consequence of the low frequency at which they operate, have to be quite large, heavy, and expensive. What if you could make the AC higher frequency, to the point that you could use a tiny transformer that weighs only a few grams and costs less than $1? Well it turns out you can, and most power supplies today are much smaller, lighter weight, and more efficient th...