You see transformers everywhere. They're inside stereos, phones, and even on powerlines. Aside from their widely varied locations, they all have one single task to accomplish: They transfer electric power from one circuit to another circuit, via a magnetic field.
This web page is made to inform the noninformed about a certain type of transformer - the distribution transformer. They are specifically made to distribute electric power to places where it is needed. Distribution transformers (popularly called pole pigs) are what feeds power to your house. Look up at the powerlines in any residential area, and see them for yourself. They're big white cans, and they drop 3 heavy wires down into the main breaker box of every house on your street, county, city, and country!
These transformers are really cool in several ways. Heres the list:
Yes, you really can turn them around backwards and plug them in the wall. But it's really not as easy as it sounds. You have to have current limiting. You're sure to trip the breaker without it. Some popular forms of current limiting include arc welders, oven heating elements, variacs, and smaller transformers.
The current limiting goes in series with the pole pig. It's role is to limit the current through the big transformer to a decent level. Hundreds of amperes may be drawn, unless you have something to "hold it back", if you will.
To limit the current through our transformer, we've decided to use an old arc welder core. Aron and I have stripped out all the old windings, and plan to put our own on. We hope to achieve 20 to 30 amps...we'll see how it really works out : )
Here is our famed pole pig. Pictures/specifications are shown below:
