Why isn't isolation transformer used in transmission lines?

Question

I am doing a project "Shock proof socket" by connecting the socket to the secondary of an isolation transformer (230 V). I wouldn't be electrocuted if I touched only the phase wire from the secondary (as the circuit is not completed via ground). If using isolation transformer is safe in this manner, then why it isn't implemented in the transmission lines supplying for household use.

Also what all are the disadvantages of using isolation transformer for this purpose? One reason might be that it needs equal windings in secondary and primary which makes it bulky and costly. Are there any other reasons?

Answer 1

All inductive transformers are isolated except "auto-transformers" which share the conduction winding.

However all transformers also have a coupling capacitance which can lead to a sense of false security if you touch an isolated secondary and expect no current to flow.

This is because two capacitors can be a step down transformer as well, where the smallest capacitor takes the biggest step, and compared to a grid transformer, you are the smallest capacitance.

The bigger the transformer, and its dielectric constant in the insulation, generally, the bigger the coupling capacitance which tends to be much bigger than the average human capacitance from air to your finger tip of 100pF.

Hence all distribution transformers (DT) are earth grounded on the neutral of a Y or split phase output.

The isolation transformer helps protect measurement equipment from catastrophic ground clip connections. Ferroresonant types maintain a constant voltage but are far worse for conducting line transient noise.

Isolation transformer are perfect solutions when needed for equipment or human safety. But noise can be worse. Worse yet, the insulation can charge up to lethal levels without any resistance to ground.

The down side is potential greater common-mode noise if the unit contains a lot of switched currents. This is common in laptop chargers because the DC output is floating and external mic's often get hum from the charger until the person touches ground with a finger or the laptop is grounded to an external monitor.

• You can try this experiment.

• Connect laptop charger to a grounded outlet.

  • see if you can measure any AC or DC voltage on the laptop case compared to an instrument earth ground.
• verify the connected laptop is floating (isolated to ground) with an ohm-meter
• power up the unit and measure the AC current from floating laptop case to earth ground
  • see if you can feel the tiny current by touching your hand on a grounded instrument or VGA cable on a grounded monitor and with other wrist touch the corner of the laptop
  • then repeat the experiment with your "transformer" in your isolation project and compare results

Answer 2

Your question is really 'why do distribution systems tie neutral to ground since at first sight this guarantees a hefty shock' (in some fault scenarios), whereas a floating system - such as your socket - appears to be much safer. The biggest reason is that, in the nature of things, sooner or later a ground fault would develop at some random point in the distribution system; this would have the effect of suddenly making dangerous a whole other lot of appliances which had developed hitherto 'safe' live-to-chassis contact faults. Thus what earthing and the associated circuit breakers and fuses etc provide is predictability in the face of the randomness of the real world. [Not foolproof of course - couple of years ago a combination of faults in my parent's old house wiring led to a section of 'earthed' conduit - and hence the screw heads exposed on the surface of lightswitches etc - becoming live.]