Question about transformer input/output rating

[Ken]

I bought a desklamp that has 35 Watt lamp, and a transformer.
The transformer input rating is 120V AC 60Hz 70W
Output rating is 12V AC 3000mA

Based on my limited knowledge, the output power should be 12*3000mA =
36 Watt.

My question are
1. since the transformer's input rating is 70W, what is the actual
power consumed by this transformer? or actually what is the power
consumed when I use this lamp (when the lamp itself is rated 35 watt)?

2. What is type II transformer?

Regards,
Ken

 

[CFoley1064]

Subject: Question about transformer input/output rating

From: [email protected] (Ken)
Date: 5/7/2004 8:26 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id: <[email protected]>

I bought a desklamp that has 35 Watt lamp, and a transformer.
The transformer input rating is 120V AC 60Hz 70W
Output rating is 12V AC 3000mA

Based on my limited knowledge, the output power should be 12*3000mA =
36 Watt.

My question are
1. since the transformer's input rating is 70W, what is the actual
power consumed by this transformer? or actually what is the power
consumed when I use this lamp (when the lamp itself is rated 35 watt)?

2. What is type II transformer?

Regards,
Ken

1) Assuming you're running straight 120VAC into the transformer, it probably
draws less than 40 watts total power from the line. As a "first cut", you can
assume a power transformer is better than 90% efficient when it is loaded
between 25% and 90% of rated load.

2) Class 2 is a U.L. term which indicates that the part meets specific safety
requirements as defined in U.L. 1585 or U.L. 1310.

http://www.stancor.com/jsp/baselecinf.jsp

Good luck
Chris

 

[Robert C Monsen]

I bought a desklamp that has 35 Watt lamp, and a transformer.
The transformer input rating is 120V AC 60Hz 70W
Output rating is 12V AC 3000mA

Based on my limited knowledge, the output power should be 12*3000mA =
36 Watt.

My question are
1. since the transformer's input rating is 70W, what is the actual
power consumed by this transformer? or actually what is the power
consumed when I use this lamp (when the lamp itself is rated 35 watt)?

2. What is type II transformer?

Regards,
Ken

Power isn't consumed by a transfomer. The power rating indicates how
much power you can get out of it without overheating and possibly
destroying it. The connected devices consume the power, and determine
how much power is passed through it.

So, when you have a 35W lamp connected up, the transformer is passing
35W, and wasting perhaps a couple of watts in heat.

Regards,
Bob Monsen

 

[Ken]

I bought a desklamp that has 35 Watt lamp, and a transformer.
The transformer input rating is 120V AC 60Hz 70W
Output rating is 12V AC 3000mA

Based on my limited knowledge, the output power should be 12*3000mA =
36 Watt.

My question are
1. since the transformer's input rating is 70W, what is the actual
power consumed by this transformer? or actually what is the power
consumed when I use this lamp (when the lamp itself is rated 35 watt)?

2. What is type II transformer?

Regards,
Ken

Thanks all for your reply.
The transformer is kind of big, and the lamp is pretty cheap. Is it
possible that this is a inefficient transformer that could need much
more power than output rating?
I wonder why the input rating is so high compared to the output rating
(70 W vs 36 W).

Regards,
Ken

 

[John Popelish]

Thanks all for your reply.
The transformer is kind of big, and the lamp is pretty cheap. Is it
possible that this is a inefficient transformer that could need much
more power than output rating?
I wonder why the input rating is so high compared to the output rating
(70 W vs 36 W).

Regards,
Ken

I'm not an expert on the meaning of "type II" but it might mean that
the transformer is capable of shorted secondary operation while it
limits the input power to no more than 70 watts. This implies a lot
of leakage inductance between primary and secondary and would make it
have very poor voltage regulation and the secondary voltage would be
expected to be quite a bit higher at no load than it is with a 36 watt
load. Try measuring the output voltage with the normal and open
circuit secondary.