Ted wrote:

I have a transformer from a dead microwave. Its schematic diagram shows
a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a third one named F. The primary
(115 volts) appears to be two or three turns around the core, insulated
all the way, with both ends sticking out. This primary winding is
sandwiched between the other two coils, both of which have many
windings. One of these coils has two connectors sticking out of the
windings. The other, with very fine wire, has one connector on the
windings, and the other connector is attached to the frame(why?), with
the other end of the fine wire attached to it.

How can I measure the voltage of the outputs? I have a multitester, but
if I connect it across the outputs won't I just trip a breaker with no
load on the output?

There is a series of numbers on the transformer's sticker but I have no
idea how to translate those into something meaningful. (YEC DPC OBJY2
YN-685)

Thanks for any help.

Ted

This would be a good question for sci.electronics.design or
sci.electronics.basic. I would warn you about the off-topic political
posts on etc.design, but they're only the _second_ worst newsgroup in
that regard that I subscribe to.

The HV secondary has one connector attached to the frame because the
frame is grounded and the microwave is either operating on a
single-phase rectifier circuit, or with a voltage-doubling rectifier
circuit (probably single-phase, they're incredibly cheap).

Get a copy of the ARRL handbook, it'll have some good pointers on HV safety.

What are you trying to do that you need 1200 volts?

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com