Experiment No.

POLARITY TEST OF TRANSFORMER

I. Objectives

 To familiarize the students about the fundamentals of transformers

 To determine the polarity of a single phase transformer windings
 To emphasize the importance of Polarity Test in the reconnection of a 2-winding
transformer to an autotransformer

II. Theoretical Consideration

Today, transformers are one of the most important components of any power system.
In its simplest form, a transformer will consist of a rectangular laminated magnetic structure
on which two coils of different number of turns are wound. At constant frequency, it changes
the level of voltages from one value to the other. Being a static machine, the efficiency of a
transformer could be as high as 99%.

A 2-winding transformer has two separate magnetically coupled coils with no electrical
connection between them (See Figure 1a). The winding to which A.C. voltage is impressed is
called the primary of the transformer and the winding across which the load is connected is
called the secondary of the transformer.

For many transformers, polarity is necessary to correctly construct three-phase

transformer banks and to properly parallel single or three-phase transformers with existing
electrical systems. Polarity refers to the relative direction of the induced voltages between the
high voltage terminals and the low voltage terminals. It is necessary to know the relative
polarity at any instant of primary and secondary terminals for making correct connections when
the two transformers are to be connected in parallel to share the load on the system. If the
induced emf (V’) is greater than the supplied voltage, then, the transformer is said to have an
additive polarity. In contrast, if the induced emf (V’) is less than the supplied voltage, then, the
transformer is said to have a subtractive polarity.

Moreover, it is possible to connect a conventional 2-winding transformer as an

autotransformer or one can develop an autotransformer as a single unit. Transformers having
a single winding with suitable tapping are called autotransformers (See Figure 1b).
Figure 1a: A 2-winding transformer Figure 1b: An autotransformer

III. List of Apparatus

 Power Supply (230 V AC Source)

 Digital Multimeter
 2-winding Transformer
 Connecting Wires

IV. Procedures

NOTE: In this experiment, high voltages will be used. Make sure that the power is
turned off before you make any changes to your connections and after completing each
measurement.

Trial 1
1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1.1a.

Figure 1.1a
 2. Use 230 V as your primary source (Vp). Measure for the secondary voltage (Vs)
and induced emf (V’) as indicated in the figure.
3. Determine whether the polarity of the transformer is additive or subtractive.
4. Record the data obtained in Table 1.1 located at the Tabulation/Data and Results.
5. Turn off the voltage source.

Trial 2
1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1.1b.

Figure 1.1b

2. Use 230 V as your primary source (Vp). Measure for the secondary voltage (Vs)
and induced emf (V’) as indicated in the figure.
3. Determine whether the polarity of the transformer is additive or subtractive.
4. Record the data obtained in Table 1.1 located at the Tabulation/Data and Results.
5. Turn off the voltage source.

.
V. Tabulation/Data & Results

Trial Vp Vs V’ Additive or Subtractive

(Volts) (Volts) (Volts) Additive Subtractive
1 230V 81.309V 243.994V Additive
2 230V 81.309V 81.325V Subtractive
Table 1.1
VI. Conclusion and Observation

The polarity test in this experiment, exhibits whether the transformer is additive or
subtractive. The transformer is additive when the induce voltage (V’) is greater than
the Primary voltage. Ideally, V’s is the sum or the difference of primary voltage and
secondary voltage. In an additive polarity, the induced emf is the sum of the two
voltages Vp and Vs while in a subtractive polarity, emf is the difference of the two.

VII. Guided Questions

1. Explain the importance of polarity test in transformers.

One of the importance of polarity test of a transformer is knowing its proper

connection for an application. Once the polarity has been determined by the test
whether it is additive or subtractive, then it can be connected with certainty.

2. Differentiate the conditions of the additive and subtractive polarity of the

transformer.

In additive transformer, the induced emf is the sum of the secondary and the
primary voltages. On the other hand, in a subtractive polarity, the induced emf is
the difference of the primary and secondary volatges.

3. What is the use of an autotransformer?

An autotransformer (sometimes called auto step down transformer,) is an

electrical transformer with only one winding. The auto prefix refers to the single
coil acting alone and not to any kind of automatic mechanism. In an
autotransformer, portions of the same winding act as both
the primary and secondary sides of the transformer. In contrast, an ordinary
transformer has separate primary and secondary windings which are not
electrically connected

4. If a two-winding transformer has a voltage transformation ratio of 5/3 and supplied

by a source voltage of 230V and it is intended to transform into an autotransformer
by connecting the end of the primary coil to the start of the secondary coil. Find the
V’ of the resultant autotransformer.
 𝑉𝑠 = 𝑉𝑝 ∗ 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜
5
𝑉𝑠 = 230 ∗ ( )
3
𝑉𝑠 = 383.33𝑉
′
𝑉 = 𝑉𝑝 + 𝑉𝑠 (𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑟)
𝑉 ′ = 230 + 383.33
𝑽′ = 𝟔𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟑𝑽

5. The V’ of an autotransformer is read as 120V. If the primary supplied voltage is

20% greater than the secondary voltage when it is a 2-winding transformer and the
coils are connected end to end. Find the primary and secondary voltage of the 2-
winding transformer.

𝑉 ′ = 𝑉𝑝 + 𝑉𝑠
𝑉 ′ = 120𝑉
𝑉𝑝 = 𝑉𝑠 + 0.20𝑉𝑠
Subtractive Polarity:
𝑉 ′ = 𝑉𝑝 − 𝑉𝑠
𝑉 ′ = (𝑉𝑠 + 0.20𝑉𝑠) − 𝑉𝑠 = 120
𝑽𝒔 = 𝟔𝟎𝟎𝑽
𝑽𝒑 = 𝟕𝟐𝟎𝑽