Oil burner ignition transformers have an output voltage of how many volts?

• A. 5,000 volts
• B. 10,000 volts
• C. 15,000 volts
• D. 20,000 volts

Answer: (B)

Oil burner ignition transformers create a brief, high-voltage spark to jump the gap between the electrodes in the burner and ignite the atomized fuel–air mixture. They take the control circuit’s voltage and step it up to a high level with enough current to form a spark, but not so much that it damages components. This voltage is typically around ten thousand volts, which is enough to reliably ignite the mixture across the electrode gap under normal burner conditions while staying within insulation limits. If the voltage is too low, the spark may not form reliably and ignition becomes inconsistent. If it’s much higher, it can cause unwanted arcing, wear on electrodes, or insulation problems. So, around ten thousand volts is the standard, practical level for reliable ignition.