To　realize　passive　vibration　monitoring　of　power　transformers,　this　study　proposes　a　self-powered　method　for　transformer　vibration　monitoring　sensors　based　on　the　Sm-doped-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3　(PMN-PT)　piezoelectric　bimorph　array.　This　study　conducts　the　theoretical　analysis　and　field　measurement　of　the　transformer　vibration　signals.　In　addition,　the　preparation　method　of　a　high-performance　Sm-doped-PMN-PT　piezoelectric　bimorph　is　investigated.　The　properties　of　the　xSm-PMN-yPT　ceramics　are　also　analyzed.　Further,　the　output　voltage　and　power　characteristics　of　the　piezoelectric　bimorph　arrays　with　different　combinations　are　compared.　Finally,　the　validation　and　application　of　the　prototype　are　presented.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　2.5%Sm-PMN-32PT　has　a　high　piezoelectric　coefficient　(d33)　of　1710　pC/N.　The　results　also　indicate　that　the　piezoelectric　self-powered　device　with　a　parallel　structure　consisting　of　nine　piezoelectric　bimorphs　has　a　maximum　power　generation　of　2.341　mW　under　the　measured　transformer　vibration　excitation.　Moreover,　it　is　shown　that　it　takes　75　min　to　complete　the　charging　of　the　7.5　V-1-F　faradic　capacitor　from　4.4　to　5　V　to　satisfy　the　condition　for　the　required　energy　of　2.82　J　for　the　vibration　signal　acquisition,　processing,　and　transmission,　realizing　the　intermittent　passive　vibration　monitoring　of　the　transformer　for　16　times　per　day.　Therefore,　the　proposed　method　has　a　promising　engineering　application　prospect.　©　2001-2012　IEEE.