Agile Magnetics Blog

Magnetic components — and electromagnetism as a whole — play a key role in many emerging technologies, including those critical to the aerospace, defense, and communications industries.

Power supplies, otherwise known as electric power converters, are electronic devices used to supply electricity to an electrical load. They don’t store energy, but instead receive electrical energy from an outside source such as the electricity grid, a generator, an alternator, or energy storage devices like batteries or fuel cells.

Power supplies perform a very important function: they reduce the power supplied to a voltage level that is suitable for powering the load. The component that performs this function is called a Power Supply Unit (PSU). PSUs can also be used for converting AC input power to DC power (with a DC PSU). Finally, regulated PSUs ensure that power supplied to the load is constant, even if the AC supply voltage changes. This is important for the proper functioning and longevity of electrical load components.

Agile Magnetics is excited to attend the APEC 2016 Conference, which will bring industry professionals, suppliers, and thought leaders together in Long Beach, CA later this month. Exhibiting at Booth 1556, members of our team will be presenting our high-efficiency and premium quality products to conference attendees.

A transformer is a basic electrical device used to transfer electrical energy between two or more circuits. It works through the principle of electromagnetic induction, which involves the production of electromagnetic forces (EMF) across a conductor that is exposed to alternating magnetic fields. The purpose of using a transformer is to either increase or decrease the voltage of an alternating current (AC).

Locomotive Transformers are meant to last, so learning how you should be storing and handling this equipment can help the performance longevity.  Once you purchase a new transformer, it’s helpful to seek out your own plan depending on the model’s designated maintenance requirements. An active maintenance plan will also allow for workload efficiencies by avoiding emergency or system breakdown.

An inductor is an electromagnetic component used to resist the changes in current in a circuit. It consists of a wire wound into a coil, which temporarily stores energy in a magnetic field — they are like an electrical version of a flywheel. When the current in the circuit changes, the magnetic field induces a voltage in the conductor in the opposite direction of the incoming current. In other words, inductors oppose changes in current.

Learn the best transformer safety practices.

The Importance of Transformer Safety

When using equipment that emits a large amount of voltage, much like some transformers do, it is paramount that you take safety precautions into account.

When safety precautions are not met, system breakdown, emergency shutdown, and injury can result, each of which can place your operations in jeopardy.

Understanding your transformer’s design and proper installation will ensure successful machinery operation.

The transformer safety practices mentioned herein can be utilized in any piece of transformer machinery, independent from the manufacturer or system type.

Download Our High Frequency Transformer Guide