Choosing the right transformer
Size by VA, and do not undersize. The VA rating is the load the secondary can carry. Add up what the 24 V circuit actually drives — contactor coil, gas valve, condensate pump, thermostat, zone dampers — and pick a transformer above that total. A 40 VA unit suits a straightforward split system; add a humidifier, a zone panel or a smart thermostat with a C-wire and 50 VA gives you the headroom. An overloaded transformer runs hot, buzzes, and eventually fails open.
Match the primary tap to your line voltage. Multi-tap means one transformer covers 120 V, 208 V and 240 V supplies — you land the primary lead on the tap matching the incoming voltage and cap the ones you do not use. Landing 240 V on the 120 V tap destroys the transformer immediately.
Secondary is 24 VAC on all units here, the standard for thermostats and control circuits across virtually every North American residential system.