Lightweight aircraft transformers

THE LARGE a-c electric loads and voltages of airplanes provide such applications for transformers as lighting, instrumentation, control, rectification, and window deicing. Transformer size and weight are determined by the quality of magnetic circuit and temperature limits of the insulation, the a-c frequency being fixed by the aircraft generators. As a transformer designed for a given load is made smaller, the iron and copper must be worked harder; and thus, increased losses and high operating temperatures are the prices to be paid for size reduction.