Do you need to avoid loss of power over long-distance electricity transmission? Maybe you have different applications or items of equipment that require different voltage levels, and, of course, you want to protect them all from damage. If this describes your situation, it’s time to start looking at power transformers for generators for your worksite. 

A power transformer is a valuable tool for efficient energy distribution and for helping generators to seamlessly integrate with the electrical grid. It establishes the delivery of the correct level of power to various instruments and equipment and is widely used by businesses ranging from construction companies to power plants to utility services.

In environments such as construction sites, power transformers for generators not only protect excessively high electrical currents from causing damage to equipment, but they also protect the safety of your staff by providing voltage regulation and ground fault protection. Their benefits are present in other industries as well.

You may be wondering if you need to hire a generator transformer every time you need a generator on your worksite. Are the pair a package deal, or do you only need a transformer under certain circumstances?   

What is a Power Transformer?

A power transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another. It’s a static device that works on the principle of electromagnetic induction, creating a current by moving a conductor through a magnetic field. The discovery of electromagnetic induction can be traced back to the work of Michael Faraday in 1831 and Joseph Henry in 1832, who almost simultaneously pioneered it through their own independent research. Electromagnetic induction is a principle that pushed scientific understanding of electricity to new heights.

A power transformer is mostly used to increase or decrease the voltage between the distribution circuits and the generator. It’s considered both a static device (it has no moving parts) and a passive one (it doesn’t produce energy; it just moves it from one circuit to another with no change in frequency).

Power transformers are used to reduce power loss caused by ohmic heating (named after the Ohm’s Law equation). They have various other uses as well. They provide galvanic isolation between circuits, keeping a distance between them in order to avoid short circuits and ground faults. They can adjust the load impedance and the source impedance to match, improving efficiency and the balance of power.

All power transformers have three basic functions: the generation, transmission and distribution of power. Yet they come in various types based on the number of windings (coils) they consist of.

A more precise way to measure the performance of power transformers for generators is to examine their specifications. The ‘rated voltage’ is the level of voltage that the transformer is designed to have and is usually measured in volts or kilovolts. The ‘rated power’ is the maximum level of power it can deliver. The ‘voltage ratio’ measures the degree to which the power transformer steps the voltage up and down and the ‘impedance’ is the level of resistance the flow of current is faced with. All of these factors play a part when you’re aiming to assess the performance of a power transformer and whether it’s right for your generator and your business.

Do You Always Need to Hire a Power Transformer?

You don’t necessarily need to hire a generator transformer every time you hire a generator. Factors like the kind of generator you’re hiring, what you need to use it for and the requirements of your electrical system all have major factors.

You’re unlikely to need a power transformer when you’re using the generator close to the point of its use, and it’s generating the right amount of voltage. The same applies in remote or isolated places with no need for long-distance power transmission.

The larger the scale of your operation, the more likely it is you’ll need a power transformer. Large-scale enterprises like power plants or utility services managing power grids typically need power transformers. Read on if you suspect your industry might be among them.

Who Needs a Power Transformer?

In 2022, the industrial sector dominated the market share for power transformers at 43.7%. Some businesses that most commonly use power transformers include:

Construction

Construction sites commonly use generators as sources of temporary power. Power transformers regulate the voltage as they distribute electricity evenly across the construction site.

Entertainment

Concerts, film productions and other outdoor operations often take place in locations that are far from a power grid. Power transformers for generators allow essential pieces of equipment like lighting and sound systems to function.

Oil, gas and mining

Oil, gas and mining facilities also tend to be based in remote locations where they can’t connect to the power grid. These three separate industries share a common factor in the fact that a generator transformer makes it easier to supply electricity site-wide to pumps and equipment.

Emergency services and disaster relief

When the power supply suffers disruption during a natural disaster or other emergency, a generator with a power transformer can be a literal lifesaver.

Telecommunications networks

A cell tower in a remote area or a telecommunication company in the process of expansion can both be heavily helped by a power transformer to spread electricity further afield.

Agriculture

Farms can be located far from a power grid and may require the assistance of a generator and power transformer for a task like irrigation.

If you’re in one of the above industries (or several others), there’s a high chance you’ll need to hire a generator transformer the next time you hire a generator. 

Hire a Power Transformer from Total Generators

Hire a power transformer from Total Generators, and you can stay in control of the voltage levels at your facility. Our electrical power transformers provide our clients with the maximum level of efficiency on or near a full load.

Providing our clients with the right generator for their business is our highest priority, and we’ll make sure you leave with the diesel generator for hire best suited to the needs of your business.

With more than 25 years of experience providing generator rental services to Australian industries, Total Generators is used to tailoring specific solutions to our clients rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Our commitment to providing you with reliable energy 24 hours a day is one of the main reasons we’re the first choice for clients as diverse as remote mining camps, construction projects and film production companies.
Whether you need more information about our power transformers for generators or you’re ready to hire a generator transformer, get in touch with the Total Generators team.