System and method for reducing power consumption in a power supply circuit

A system for reducing power consumption in a power supply circuit including:

• a variable autotransformer including a winding having a first end and a second end, wherein an output of the variable autotransformer is positioned between the first end and the second end of the winding;
• a second transformer including:
• a core;
• a first winding including a first end and a second end of a first wire wound on the core;
• a second winding including a first end and a second end of a second wire, wherein the second wire has a larger cross-section than the first wire and the second end of the first wire is connected to the first end of the second wire;
• an input at the second end of the second winding for connecting to the power supply circuit;
• and
• an output at a junction of the first and second windings for connecting to a load;
• and
• a controller for variably controlling an output voltage at the output of the second transformer, wherein the output voltage is less than a supply voltage at the input, to reduce the power consumption of the load;
• wherein the second end of the winding of the variable autotransformer is connected to the junction of the first and second windings of the second transformer, and the output of the variable autotransformer is connected to the first end of the first winding of the second transformer.