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I needed a 120v to 12v transformer, so I found these small DL 60 transformers on ebay. I hooked them up and turned them on, measured them with my DMM and got zero volts. I looked all over for documentation, couldn't find anything. Finally, I thought perhaps it needed a load before it would turn on. I hooked up a light bulb and lo and behold, it worked. So I measured the output and it still showed zero volts. It finally dawned on me, these weren't transformers at all, but switching power supplies! My meter read zero volts because it is expecting 50 or 60 hertz, not switching speeds.

Can't manufacturers label what their devices actually are?

I needed a 120v to 12v transformer, so I found these small DL 60 transformers on ebay. I hooked them up and turned them on, measured them with my DMM and got zero volts. I looked all over for documentation, couldn't find anything. Finally, I thought perhaps it needed a load before it would turn on. I hooked up a light bulb and lo and behold, it worked. So I measured the output and it still showed zero volts. It finally dawned on me, these weren't transformers at all, but switching power supplies! My meter read zero volts because it is expecting 50 or 60 hertz, not switching speeds. Can't manufacturers label what their devices actually are?

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[–] [deleted] • 3 pts

Couldn't you tell the difference by looking at them? Transformers are distinctively-shaped components, there is generally a rectangular iron frame holding a large paper-wrapped coil of copper wire. When you were looking at tiny smooth rectangles what was your thought process? That they enclosed the transformer in a metal container about one tenth the volume the transformer should occupy? We are not Time Lords, and we can't make the insides of a container larger than the outsides, yet.

[–] • 0 pt

I understand what your saying, but it said "transformer" not switching power supply. I was thinking, wow, they've figured out how to miniaturize transformers.

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

Yeah but DL60's say right on the packaging that they're for halogen lighting. The DL stands for Dimming Loop. You want something like this, you goober: eBay LINK (ebay.com)