Autotransformer

/ˌɔːtəʊtrænsˈfɔːrmər/ noun

Definition

An electrical transformer with a single winding where the input and output share the same coil, allowing voltage adjustment with high efficiency.

Etymology

From auto- (self) + transformer (from Latin transformare). In electrical engineering, 'auto' refers to the single winding using itself for both primary and secondary circuits.

Kelly Says

Autotransformers are sneaky efficient—by reusing the same coil for input and output, they're lighter and cheaper than regular transformers, making them perfect for voltage regulation in everything from your phone charger to industrial equipment.

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