Enter the power, voltage, power factor, and efficiency of the transformer into the calculator to determine the wire size.

Transformer Wire Size Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the transformer wire size.

WS = √(P / (1.732 * V * PF * η))

Variables:

  • WS is the wire size in square millimeters
  • P is the power in kilowatts
  • V is the voltage in volts
  • PF is the power factor (ranges between 0 and 1)
  • η is the efficiency of the transformer (ranges between 0 and 1)

To calculate the transformer wire size, divide the power by the product of the square root of 3, the voltage, the power factor, and the efficiency of the transformer. The result is the wire size in square millimeters.

What is a Transformer Wire Size?

A transformer wire size refers to the diameter of the wire used in the construction of a transformer. The size of the wire directly affects the transformer’s efficiency and performance. Larger wire sizes can carry more electrical current, reducing power losses and improving efficiency. However, they also increase the size, weight, and cost of the transformer. Therefore, selecting the appropriate wire size is crucial in transformer design to balance performance, cost, and size considerations.

How to Calculate Transformer Wire Size?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Transformer Wire Size using the given formula:


  1. First, determine the power (P) in kilowatts.
  2. Next, determine the voltage (V) in volts.
  3. Next, determine the power factor (PF) which ranges between 0 and 1.
  4. Next, determine the efficiency (η) of the transformer which ranges between 0 and 1.
  5. Using the formula WS = √(P / (1.732 * V * PF * η)), calculate the wire size (WS) in square millimeters.
  6. After inserting the values of P, V, PF, and η into the formula, calculate the wire size (WS).

Example Problem:

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge:

Power (P) in kilowatts = 50

Voltage (V) in volts = 220

Power factor (PF) = 0.8

Efficiency (η) of the transformer = 0.9