Simple to build isolation transformer that consumes less power than it gives out

[T-1000]

On the Russian side... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHitE-1sZpw - Romanov explanation of same principles.
Someone need to translate this into English.

Here is self runner(?) based on same principle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU_T4B4fQwQ

It is all about resonance and pushing current forward and backwards...

[baroutologos]

Watts Up,  Please try a Diode as shown in the schematic.

That should give O/U.  Also, try various size Caps in different places.

Thanks for sharing your set up.

I do not think you want to use diodes in plain 50-/60 Hz mains transformers. it creates an one way current, that dramatically decrases impedance and heavily saturates the core thus causing a lot of idle current flowing. In the 220v winding the resistance will play a major role in limiting current that way.

...
One interesting thing i have noticed with common mains transformer is that they are in a "possitive feedback" state as they are permeated by alternating current. To put it another way, if you have a handy LC meter and measure inductance and then find out impedance of 50/60 Hz, you would realized that actuall impedance maybe a figure of x10 than that of estimated.

example 1

My big 200 VA 220/15 trafo has a 220v winding of 1.75 H. (The bigger the trafo the less inductance you will measure) By applying the impedance calculation for 50 Hz mains at 220vac, a 550 ohms figure is found. Then some 0,5 amp idle current should flow this way. The actual idle current is not more that 20-30 mA. So something is wrong either with meter of trafo working under those circumstances. I have not reasons to believe my LC meter is wrong.

example 2

one of 40va 220/12 trafo i have, measures at 12volts secondary 8.5 mH. The calculated impedance at 50 Hz is 2.67 Ohms. By having my 1KW variac output wired at that secondary and working at 12volt my clamp meter shows some 0,8 amps circulating in that 12volt winding, whereas according my calculation of impedance it should be 5-6 amps?

Can someone verify that or explain to me in scientific terms? What i uderstand is that in a closed magnetic circuit (especially of iron core trafos) there is a feedback effect that seriously enhances measured inductances. This of course in some limits.

Then, i found out by applying a diode (similar to magnetic applifiers) this effect is gone and you observe current flows (when working in the unsaturated area) that correspond to calculated impedance based more or less on measured inductance.

[Jack Noskills]

Now what is this vacation that you cant sleep with this going on my head ? So I just had to drop in and check how are things going.

I have a reasonable explanation how this works, I try to write about this at some stage. It is easier if you think those inductors as virtual batteries that come to live when they are fed with sine wave. Amount of wire length on coils should be same , they form the - and + ends of the virtual battery. The junction is the + and other ends are the -. If lengths are not equal then you will see some losses as current may flow between different level of + potentials and it does not go through the load.

First thing that you need accomplish is to drive the idle current down when no load is connected. If your coils do not have enough turns then you need the tuning cap. If you have ferrite and sig gen, then just thrown in some cap and sweep for a sweet spot. If you can measure the L then you should know if your SG can provide needed frequency.

Diodes are not needed as this works on both halves of sine wave. Output should be rectified sine, so consider this if you do power measurements.
Two trafo setup might provide easier way to compare power in vs power out.

wattsup, thanks for looking into this. All we need next is just one successfull replication and then the fun starts, or a major shit storm. Depends on which side you are on, lol.

[Jack Noskills]

I realised this is more about core performance than resonance so I want to explain my thinking before experimentations go further possibly in wrong direction.

First, lets say your trafo under test is 50 % efficient. You put 100 watts in and get 50 watts out when used as normal trafo. In one trafo setup 100 watts comes into upper winding, it creates 50 watts in lower winding. This 50 watts goes to load. When it goes there, it creates 25 watts in the upper winding in same phase as input so source needs to push only 100 - 25 watts. 100 watts still goes through the load and you now got 150 watts there while using 75 watts.

Tuning for resonance will drive the idle current down, but because of inefficient core you most likely don't get any more out.
With ferrite this is easy to fix by increasing driving frequency. Even if you have low performance core you can measure if the above theory is valid. The effect I observed comes only when core efficiency is high enough and at 50 % efficiency power increase is 2 times the input.

If theory is valid then this just got simplified as there is no need for tuning. Tuning did seem to improve my test setup a bit so it shouldn't be forgot altogether. It could be due to fact that my reassembly was not perfect or resonance has some effect.

[broli]

@Jack Noskills

Are you willing to send your setup to someone nearby who does have the equipment for a correct power analysis?