David Griffith wrote:
I have a bunch of 4-inch tall transformers with ten terminals each.
Looking at the front, I see terminals 1 and 2 on the left. On the right
are 3, 4, and 5. On this side I see:
MORROW'S
DESIGN, inc
MD2FD8
On the other side are terminals 6 through 10 arranged the same way as
before. On this side I see:
TSC
529
I presume this transformer takes 120 volts and steps it down to 16, 8, and
5 volts. But what are the other terminals for? One side for 120V input
and the other for 240V? If you can identify it for me and want one, I'll
send it to you for postage.
A picture is at
http://www.cs.csubak.edu/~dgriffi/transformer_morrow.jpg
A possible scenario is 2*2 terminals for dual-120V-primaries and 2*3 terminals
for two center-tapped secondaries, although usually the 4 dual-primary
terminals would be on the same side of the core.
Another common-ish primary winding configuration, beloved of HP amongst
others [1] is to have 2 primary windings. One is 120V (2 connections),
the other is 120V, tapped at 100V (3 connections). You can wire them up
to work with :
100V mains : Input to the 100V part of the winding, then the 2 120V
windings in parallel. The tapped winding acts as an autotransformer to
step up the mains to 120V for the plain winding.
120V mains : The 2 120V windings in parallel, mains across them
220V mains : 120V winding in series with the 100V part.
240V mains : The 2 120V windings in series.
[1] I've only really seen it in HP devices, but it must have been
standard in that I've seen a combined mains input plug/filter/voltage
selector assemnly where the last part was clearly designed for this sort
of transformer.
Given that configruation of primaries, which uses 5 connections, you have
5 left for the secodnaries. The obvious combination would be a simple
winding to give 8V DC (regulated down to 5V) and a centre-tapped winding
to give 16-0-16V DC (regulated down to +/- 12V)
I suppose another primary configuration could be a pair of 115V windings
(paralllel for US mains, series for European mains) with another terminal
used for an inter-winding screen.
I would start by using an ohmmeter to work out just what is connected to
what. That will tell you how many windings you have, if they're tapped,
or whatever. A terminal that connects nowhwere (assuming a good
transformer!) is a screen, most likely.
-tony