White Paper: Measuring Transformer Distributed Capacitance

This article is a general discussion of distributed capacitance, Cd, in transformers with emphasis on measurement. Capacitance in a transformer winding cannot be avoided. The voltage difference between turns, between winding layers, and between windings to core, create these parasitic elements. In general, part of the designers' task is to keep capacitance to a minimum. On rare occasions winding capacitance is increased to reduce ringing in switching transformers.