Austin transformer

The mast is mounted on a ceramic insulator to isolate it from the ground and the feedline from the transmitter is bolted to it.

Typically the mast will have a radio frequency AC potential of several thousand volts on it with respect to ground during operation.

The power cable that runs down the tower and connects to the utility line is at the high voltage of the mast.

[3][4] It consists of a ring-shaped toroidal iron core with the primary winding wrapped around it, mounted on a bracket from the mast's concrete base, connected to the lighting power source.

[5] The secondary winding which provides power to the mast lights is a ring-shaped coil which circles the toroidal core through the center, like two links in a chain, with an air gap between the two.

Austin ring transformer at the base of a WMCA and WNYC transmitting tower in Kearny, New Jersey . The two interlocking rings are the primary and secondary transformer windings. The spherical objects directly below and to the right of the windings are a spark ball gap , for lightning protection.