What device is used to reduce voltage?

A transformer is a device specifically designed for the purpose of reducing or increasing voltage levels in electrical circuits through electromagnetic induction. It operates by employing coils of wire (windings) around a magnetic core. When alternating current passes through the primary winding, it creates a magnetic field that induces a voltage in the secondary winding. The voltage ratio is determined by the ratio of the number of turns in the primary and secondary coils.

In a step-down transformer, the number of turns in the secondary winding is fewer than in the primary winding, resulting in a lower voltage output compared to the input. This property is essential in many applications, from power distribution in electrical grids to various industrial processes where specific voltage levels are required for equipment operation.

While other devices such as rectifiers, capacitors, and inductors do play important roles in electrical systems, they do not serve the primary function of voltage reduction in the way that transformers do. Rectifiers convert alternating current to direct current, capacitors temporarily store and release electrical energy, and inductors store energy in a magnetic field, none of which inherently lower voltage levels like a transformer does.