Burnt up a $400 transformer because I forgot to check the secondary load

I was swapping out a control transformer at a warehouse near Memphis last Tuesday and didn't verify the downstream load first. Long story short, the secondary was pulling damn near double the rated amps and I roasted it in about 10 seconds flat. Has anyone else had a stupid mistake like this cost them big money?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_thomas11d ago

Man I did something similar at a old job back in 2018, except it was a 480 to 120 control transformer and I had a shorted solenoid downstream that I totally blew past checking. It made this weird buzzing sound for about two seconds then let out the magic smoke. The smell hung around for like three days.

adamgreen11d ago

Man that's rough. I read somewhere those control transformers can ring like a tuning fork right before they pop. Sorry you had to deal with that, @the_thomas. That burnt varnish smell is something you don't forget easy.

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