How to tell if a transformer is wye or delta

AI Thread Summary
Determining whether a transformer is wye or delta involves analyzing its schematic configurations. The discussion highlights two common transformer setups for stepping down voltage from ~400V three-phase to lower voltages, including single-phase outputs. The presence of four circles in one schematic suggests multiple output options, while the two-circle design is more familiar for indicating standard connections. It is noted that three-phase transformers can step down to single-phase voltage through specific winding configurations or interphase voltage methods. The choice between wye and delta configurations often relates to voltage levels and grounding requirements, with wye typically used for low voltage and delta for high voltage applications.
pyro214
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
I'm going through a list of 12 transformers and trying to determine if they are wye or delta. The schematics I have come across are for power engineering and don't go into too much detail other than the following:

The transformers step down ~400V 60Hz AC (three-phase) to ~120V 60Hz AC (single or three-phase) with one of the two schematic configurations:

1 - http://s8.postimage.org/66olvudat/transformer.png
2 - http://s8.postimage.org/edglnf3dh/transformer_4.png

I'm familiar with the first schematic drawing with two circles however this is my first time seeing four circles to represent a transformer; any ideas?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Engineering news on Phys.org
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The transformers step down 440V 60Hz AC (three-phase) to 115V 60Hz AC (single or three-phase), 24V 60Hz AC (single-phase)

How can 3 phase transformer step down voltage to single phase voltage?
3 phase transformer steps down 3 phase voltage to 3 phase voltage, the connection may be different between the primary and the secondary.

First you have to be sure that the transformer is 3 phase transformer.
Else if i didn't understand your point please correct for me what do you mean 440 v three phase to 24 v single phase.

I'm familiar with the first schematic drawing with two circles however this is my first time seeing four circles to represent a transformer

I think the four circles means that:
First circle -> input winding
The other 3 circles means there are 3 different outputs the transformer can give.

Do you have transformers and want to know there connections or you just have a schematic and want to know the connections?
 
How can 3 phase transformer step down voltage to single phase voltage?

Very easily, there are several ways.

The 'step down' bit refers to the change of voltage magnitude.

Plucking a single phase froma multiphase transformer involves
either a single winding (which has two ends and therefore a single phase)
or using the interphase voltage which is done to supply higher power devices in electricity supply.
 
So where you put the iron core of the single phase?
3 phase to 1 phase -> same secondary core will make the flux of the 3 primary windings path in the same core of the secondary resulting in 0 flux -> 0 voltage on the output.
BUT if you place the core of the secondary on one phase of the primary you will get an output but in this case you will have single phase transformer not 3 phase to 1 phase
 
I'm not a power engineer and I don't "know" the answer but it seems to me delta is normally used on the high voltage side of the transformer to avoid the expense of running a fourth cable. Wye is usually used on the low voltage side of the transformer in order to have a ground connection. This would be particularly important with a single phase output in order to avoid a floating circuit.
 
Hi all I have some confusion about piezoelectrical sensors combination. If i have three acoustic piezoelectrical sensors (with same receive sensitivity in dB ref V/1uPa) placed at specific distance, these sensors receive acoustic signal from a sound source placed at far field distance (Plane Wave) and from broadside. I receive output of these sensors through individual preamplifiers, add them through hardware like summer circuit adder or in software after digitization and in this way got an...
I have recently moved into a new (rather ancient) house and had a few trips of my Residual Current breaker. I dug out my old Socket tester which tell me the three pins are correct. But then the Red warning light tells me my socket(s) fail the loop test. I never had this before but my last house had an overhead supply with no Earth from the company. The tester said "get this checked" and the man said the (high but not ridiculous) earth resistance was acceptable. I stuck a new copper earth...
Thread 'Beauty of old electrical and measuring things, etc.'
Even as a kid, I saw beauty in old devices. That made me want to understand how they worked. I had lots of old things that I keep and now reviving. Old things need to work to see the beauty. Here's what I've done so far. Two views of the gadgets shelves and my small work space: Here's a close up look at the meters, gauges and other measuring things: This is what I think of as surface-mount electrical components and wiring. The components are very old and shows how...
Back
Top