The History of the Electrical Transformer

Transformers mounted on outside power poles, used in electrical power distribution

A transformer uses magnetism to transfer energy from one coil of wire to another. Even though magnetism was discovered much earlier, it was in the 19th century that the connection between magnetism and electricity was noticed.

Discovery of Magnetism

Magnetism was independently discovered by both the Europeans and the Chinese somewhere around 2800 years ago.

Electricity and Magnetism

Hans Christian Oersted discovered that passing an electrical current through a coil of wire created magnetism in 1820. Then in 1831 Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry independently discovered that a changing magnetic field in a coil of wire would generate an electrical current.

Putting it together

Nicholas Joseph Callan put the two coils together in 1836, and created a spark between the output wires when he disconnected the battery from the input wires. Energy had been transferred from the input coil to the output coil using magnetism.

First Practical Use

By 1885 by Ottó Bláthy, Miksa Déri and Károly Zipernowsky, from the Ganz factory in Budapest, were using transformers to distribute power.

Other Uses

This is an electrical transformer for use in electronic equipment

Since the original use for power distribution, transformers have been employed in many other applications. Audio, instrumentation, isolation, adjustable, laminated core, and air core are just a few of the different types of transformers in use today.

References

• "Trinity College, Physics Department, Magnetism Group": Magnetism Through the Ages
• Kenyon College: Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Physics
• "The National Academies": Joseph Henry
• "University College Cork": Nicholas Callahan--Priest Scientist at Maynooth; William Reville
• "IEC History": Ottó Bláthy, Miksa Déri, Károly Zipernowsky

Resources

• "Inside Transformers"; University of Denver; Dr James B. Calvert, Professional Engineer
• "California Energy Commission": How Does a Transformer Work?; 2006