In order to understand the benefits of using a toroidal transformer, it is first important to take a closer look at these components. Through understanding what they are and why they are effective in the various applications they are used the benefits will become obvious; helping you to determine if this is the right type of transformer for your needs.
All of the toroidal transformer styles, from the very simple and the very small to the much larger options, are considered to be passive components. This is because they don’t specifically act on anything, and they also aren’t a component that produces energy or that creates a power gain.
If you have ever looked into a desktop or laptop computer, or just about anything else that is electronic, you will have seen a variety of different types of toroidal transformer style and sizes. They all feature a donut-shaped core, which is usually ferrite or iron powder, around which copper or other types of wire are wrapped either in tight or loose coils.
The Shape
With the toroidal transformer, the shape is very important. As this type of design has what is known as a closed-loop core it can generate a higher magnetic field in a smaller space with fewer winds that could be created with a bar or a bead shape of core.
Additionally, the toroidal shape also minimizes and greatly reduces the issues with the magnetic flux, or the magnetic energy, that escapes from the system. Since it is much less, there is a lower risk of electromagnetic interference or EMI. When there is low EMI, there is a cleaner, crisper sound for audio systems as well as virtually eliminating data loss in other types of devices.
This, in turn, means that the entire system functions more effectively, that interference doesn’t create data or packet loss or static, and that lower power can be used to drive the system.
The Benefits
Using a toroidal transformer over a solenoid coil offers a lot of benefits for any type of sound system, electronic system or type of design where components are going to be in close proximity to each other.
The relatively small size of the toroidal transformer combined with the low cost of these designs makes them a popular option in a wide range of applications. They are also much less prone, especially in audio systems and uses, to create that humming sound that can be heard clearly with other types of transformers, especially at higher volumes.
