Hvac School - For Techs, By Techs

In today’s short podcast, Bryan discusses buck-boost (auto) transformers and what they do.   Autotransformers are not automatic; the “auto” prefix comes from the fact that autotransformers only have one inductive winding. That winding is shared by the primary and the secondary, so it is not an isolation-type transformer. These transformers run current through the same winding used for induction.    Buck-boost transformers rise or decrease voltage. When the transformer “bucks,” it decreases voltage from primary to secondary, and a “boost” increases the voltage from primary to secondary. In other words, a “boost” is a step up, and a “buck” is a step down on a small scale.   You can only wire these transformers if you use the manufacturer literature. There are many types of autotransformers, and you need to know the exact setup for your transformer’s specific design. Generic diagrams will usually not suffice.   When sizing a buck-boost transformer, you must keep your start load in mind as well. As technicians, w