Transformers & Inductors

A transformer is an electrical component that allows the voltage in an alternating current electrical circuit to be increased or decreased while maintaining power. In the case of an ideal transformer (i.e., lossless), the power input to the equipment is equal to the output. Real machines have a minimum percentage of losses, depending on their design and size, among other factors. A transformer is a device that converts alternating current electrical energy of a certain voltage level into alternating current of another voltage level, based on the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction.

Inductors, on the other hand, are passive components in electronic circuits that store energy in a magnetic field when current flows through them. They are also known as coils. Inductors are used in a variety of applications, including electronic filters, tuning radio and television receivers, and current control in power circuits.