Can general purpose transformers be used to power industrial control devices?
A. The answer to this question is strictly application related. Industrial control transformers (sometimes referred to as machine tool transformers or control transformers) are specifically design to meet the demands required to power Industrial control devices such as contactors, solenoids and relays. Industrial control devices typically have two power requirements – inrush capacity (the power required to energize or seal the contacts) and sealed capacity (the power required to keep the contacts sealed). It is not uncommon for inrush requirements to be 5, 10 or 15 times the sealed requirements. It is critical that during this period of time requiring the inrush VA requirement that the voltage powering the device remain as steady as possible. Industrial control transformers are designed to provide excellent voltage regulation under inrush conditions. Transformer design engineers accomplish this via a number of different methods. Common methods include compensating transformer secondary
