How do you increase the effciency of a transformer?

Answer 1

You can manufacture the transformer using larger guage wire to reduce resistance.

AnswerTransformers are already designed to have very high efficiencies. There would be very little you could do that the designer hasn't already done. But it would involve changing the core material (to reduce hysteresis losses), changing the design of the core (to reduce eddy current losses and leakage reactance), and using conductors with lower resistance (to reduce the copper losses).

-----------

You have pointed out additional ways to improve efficiency. I don't really know which may reduce losses the most, but I2R losses have to be a significant contribution. Note that the question was "How do you (the mfg) increas the efficiency of a transformer NOT whether or not they are already doing it. The simple answer is that you increase the efficiency by modifying anything that reduces energy losses. I still believe the wire size would be a large contibutor in a steady state condition. --glennyD

---

To accommodate conductors with a larger cross-sectional area (guage), the core would have to be larger (increased mass) causing increased core losses. Maximum efficiency occurs when core losses and copper losses are the same.