Final answer:
Transformers are used to adjust voltage levels to meet customer needs, transforming energy from high transmission voltages to lower, usable voltages in homes and businesses. They play a crucial role in minimizing energy losses in power distribution systems and ensuring electrical safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
When transformers are installed to adjust voltage for a customer's needs, they can be configured to either increase or decrease voltages appropriately. Transformers are essential devices in the power distribution system as they transform voltages from one value to another. For example, in residential use, transformers are used to step down the high voltages received from transmission lines to the 110 to 220 V range which is safe and functional for home appliances.
At the power generation level, electric power is typically produced at voltages greater than 10 kV and then transmitted at high voltages, sometimes up to 700 kV, to minimize energy losses across long distances. Upon reaching local neighborhoods or businesses, the voltage is stepped down through substations to intermediate voltages, commonly between 5 to 13 kV. Finally, for safe usage at individual user locations, such as homes or businesses, transformers further reduce this to 120, 240, or 480 V, depending on the needs.
Transformers also have built-in units that change 120 V or 240 V AC into lower voltages required by various devices like cell phones, laptops, and small appliances. The ability to adjust voltages using transformers ensures that electricity is efficiently and safely distributed from the power source ultimately to the end-user.