How to find current limit of a power transformer

Thread Starter

coolyyz321

Joined Mar 17, 2017
90
Is there a way to find the current limit on the secondary side of a power transformer. Because i got one from a pcb, and want to know the current limit for a project.
 

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
38,503
One rough way is to load it with a resistive load until the voltage drops about 10%.
That should give you a reasonable limit for the RMS current.
The maximum DC current from a connected full-wave rectifier-capacitor filter would be about 60% of that.
 

#12

Joined Nov 30, 2010
18,224
Weigh it and one similar that you know about. Then estimate using watts per pound. Measure the output voltage, reduce that number by 10% like crutschow said, and divide the watts by the voltage.

Crude, but better than a complete guess.
Then measure the temperature after you have it running something. If it's too hot to hold your hand on, you're probably wrong.
 
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