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<!-- function disp_samep( res, thick, turns, wire, max, level, tpl ) { form1.a2.value=res; form1.a3.value=thick; form1.a6.value=max; form1.a8.value=wire; form1.N.value=turns; form1.a10.value=level; form1.a11.value=tpl; } function Roundoff(v) { Value = v \* 100; Value = Math.round(Value); Value = Value / 100; return Value.toString(); } function checkInd() { if (form1.inductance.value <= 0) { alert("You have not entered the inductance !"); } else if (form1.diameter.value <= 0) { alert("You have not entered the coil diameter !"); } else if (form1.coilLength.value <= 0) { alert("You have not entered the coil length !"); } else { LM = eval(form1.LM.value); dM = eval(form1.dM.value); lM = eval(form1.lM.value); DM = eval(form1.DM.value); wM = eval(form1.wM.value); WM = eval(form1.WM.value); inductance = eval(form1.inductance.value)\*LM; gauge = form1.gauge.options\[form1.gauge.options.selectedIndex\].text; diameter = eval(form1.diameter.value)\*dM; coilLen = eval(form1.coilLength.value)\*lM; switch ( gauge ) { case "1": wireSize = 0.2893; res = 0.1264;break; case "2": wireSize = 0.2576; res = 0.1593;break; case "3": wireSize = 0.2294; res = 0.2009;break; case "4": wireSize = 0.2043; res = 0.2533;break; case "5": wireSize = 0.1819; res = 0.3195;break; case "6": wireSize = 0.1643; res = 0.3952;break; case "7": wireSize = 0.1466; res = 0.4981;break; case "8": wireSize = 0.1306; res = 0.6281;break; case "9": wireSize = 0.1165; res = 0.7925;break; case "10": wireSize = 0.1039; res = 0.9988;break; case "11": wireSize = 0.0927; res = 1.2600;break; case "12": wireSize = 0.0827; res = 1.59;break; case "13": wireSize = 0.0739; res = 2.00;break; case "14": wireSize = 0.0660; res = 2.52;break; case "15": wireSize = 0.0589; res = 3.18;break; case "16": wireSize = 0.0525; res = 4.02;break; case "17": wireSize = 0.0469; res = 5.05;break; case "18": wireSize = 0.0418; res = 6.39;break; case "19": wireSize = 0.0374; res = 8.05;break; case "20": wireSize = 0.0334; res = 10.1;break; case "21": wireSize = 0.0299; res = 12.8;break; case "22": wireSize = 0.0267; res = 16.2;break; case "23": wireSize = 0.0239; res = 20.31;break; case "24": wireSize = 0.0213; res = 25.67;break; case "25": wireSize = 0.0191; res = 32.37;break; case "26": wireSize = 0.0170; res = 41.02;break; case "27": wireSize = 0.0153; res = 51.43;break; case "28": wireSize = 0.0136; res = 65.33;break; case "29": wireSize = 0.0123; res = 81.22;break; case "30": wireSize = 0.0109; res = 103.2;break; case "31": wireSize = 0.0098; res = 130.9;break; case "32": wireSize = 0.0088; res = 162.0;break; case "33": wireSize = 0.0079; res = 205.7;break; case "34": wireSize = 0.0071; res = 261.3;break; case "35": wireSize = 0.0063; res = 330.7;break; case "36": wireSize = 0.0057; res = 414.8;break; case "37": wireSize = 0.0051; res = 512.1;break; case "38": wireSize = 0.0045; res = 648.2;break; case "39": wireSize = 0.0040; res = 846.6;break; case "40": wireSize = 0.0036; res = 1079.0;break; case "41": wireSize = 0.0032; res = 1323.0;break; case "42": wireSize = 0.0028; res = 1659.0;break; case "43": wireSize = 0.0025; res = 2143.0;break; case "44": wireSize = 0.0023; res = 2593.0;break; case "45": wireSize = 0.00206; res = 3348.0;break; } currentInd = 0; turns = 1; diamavg = 0.0; diammax = diameter; turnsPerLevel = coilLen / wireSize; while ( currentInd < inductance ) { diamavg = 0.0; diammax = diameter; tempTurns = turns; while ( tempTurns > 0.0 ) { if ( tempTurns < turnsPerLevel ) { diamavg += diammax \* tempTurns; } else { diamavg += diammax \* turnsPerLevel; } diammax += (2.0\*wireSize); tempTurns -= turnsPerLevel; } diamavg /= turns; currentInd = ( diamavg / 1000.0 ) \* diamavg \* turns \* turns / (( 18.0 \* diamavg ) + ( 40.0 \* coilLen )); turns++; } feet = ( diamavg \* turns \* 3.14159 ) / 12.0; resistance = (res \* feet ) / 1000.0; level = turns / turnsPerLevel; disp_samep( Roundoff( resistance ), Roundoff((wireSize\*1000)/wM), Roundoff(turns), Roundoff(feet/WM), Roundoff(diammax/DM), Roundoff(level), Roundoff(turnsPerLevel)); } } -->
Watch the needle when the movement of the coil ceases. This is when the magnetic flux is stationary - “not increasing or decreasing.”
Watch the needle when the coil is moving away from the detecting loop.
In this discussion we are going to keep everything simple by saying this:
You can create almost any type of inductor by experimentation. You do not need to know any of the formulae or any of the theory. It can be created by simple “trial and error.”
I admit a formulae will get you started but it will not tell you the type or size of former to use or the thickness of wire.
The best approach is to copy something similar to the type you need and modify it by adding or removing turns.
In this way you will be able to “peak” the inductor and be sure you have used the optimum number of turns.
This may seem to be a simplistic way to create an inductor, however it is successful. You finish up with an item that WORKS!
Now that we have simplified the approach, let’s start with the THEORY:
The simplest inductor is a single turn of stiff wire with air in the centre (air core).
If a metal object is placed in the centre of the turn, the inductance is increased.
If additional turns are added, the inductance is increased.
If the diameter of the turn is increased, the inductance is DECREASED.
If the turns are stretched apart, the inductance of the coil DECREASES.
INDUCTORS IN PARALLEL AND SERIES
I have never had to place inductors in parallel or series in a final design, but during experimentation, it is handy to know what is happening.
Basically, they behave the same as RESISTORS.
In series, the inductance is increased and in parallel the overall inductance of the circuit is reduced.
The total inductance is:
10 + 20 + 50 = 80µH
The total inductance is:
10µH
Note: A gold stripe in the 1st 2nd or third location represents a decimal point. When a decimal point is used, there is no multiplier.
The inductance value is in microHenries.
Multilayer Air Core Inductor Calculator
Enter L, d, l and Wire Gauge (all four are required) to calculate multilayer inductor data.
<!-- //TODO FIXME: Dropdown input --> 
Inductance (L):
uH mH H
Coil Inner Diameter (d):
inches mm cm
Coil Length (l ):
inches mm cm
Wire Gauge:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
AWG
Number of Turns (N):
Turns per Layer:
Number of Layers:
Coil Outer Dia (D):
inches mm cm
Wire Diameter:
mils mm
Wire Length:
feet metres
DC Resistance (R):
Ohms
When a coil is wound on a metal core (ferrite or iron) the inductance increases enormously. The resulting inductance will depend on the cross-section of the core, the length of the magnetic path and the type of material and a number of other factors.
DRIVING AN INDUCTOR
There are two ways to drive an inductor.
- It can be driven with a SINEWAVE
- It can be driven with a PULSE
In the diagram below, the inductor is driven by a sinewave from the driving transistor:
This is purely an experimental circuit as the inductor does not perform any “feature.” The voltage across the inductor is simply a reproduction of the sinewave produced by the transistor. It does not produce the “fly-back” voltage we mentioned above.
The reason is as follows: The magnetic flux is GRADUALLY increasing and decreasing during the cycle and although this flux cuts the turns of the coil it does not produce a voltage that is higher than the applied voltage.
If another winding (called the SECONDARY) is placed over the existing winding, it will produce a larger or smaller sinewave, according to the number of turns on the secondary. The inductor becomes a TRANSFORMER and this has been covered in another article.
A typical example of a component that looks like an inductor, but is really a transformer, is a “trigger transformer.” It has a primary winding of about 30 to 100 ohms and a secondary consisting of 1,000 or more turns.
It has three leads and this may be confusing. The start winding and secondary winding are connected internally and this turns it into a type of transformer called an ’AUTO TRANSFORMER.” It means the primary and secondary are connected and thus it does not provide insulation between windings - one of the most important reasons why a transformer is used to power an electronic device - when connected to the “mains.”
The diagram below shows a trigger transformer:
If an inductor is driven by a pulse, the applied voltage is turned off at some point in the cycle and this causes the driving current to cease.
In the diagram below, the inductor is driven by pulses:
The magnetic flux that is present at the time when the transistor turns off collapses immediately and creates a voltage in the winding that has the opposite polarity to the driving voltage. If there is a lot of magnetic flux (stored in the iron or ferrite core) the voltage produced will be very high.
We are not getting something for nothing. In the first instance, the multiplication of the supply voltage and current produces a certain value of stored energy. This stored energy is converted from a low-voltage/high-current to a high-voltage/low-current.
This effect can be used to produce a high voltage from a low voltage supply. It is commonly called the “fly-back” effect. The output from the inductor are spikes of very high voltage. These are passed through a diode and stored in a capacitor. The diode prevents the voltage on the capacitor feeding back into the winding of the inductor and discharging the capacitor.
HOW DO YOU DESIGN AN INDUCTOR?
Basically you can’t.
In most cases you have no idea how an inductor should appear for a particular application, its size or how many turns are required.
You need to see an example.
Disassemble a sample, count the number of turns and measure the diameter of the wire.
Carefully note any features such as the thickness and type of insulation and the way the inductor has been wound.
Jumble-winding or layer-winding does not alter the inductance but if it is required to produce an extremely high “fly-back” voltage, the voltage between any two turns must not be higher than 80v.
This means the turns must be wound in layers with very good insulation between layers.
If the inductor is to be used in a high-frequency situation, the core material must be a high-frequency ferrite such as F24.
If you intend to copy an inductor, it is best to have two samples. One sample is dismantled and the other is used as a reference, to compare with your prototype.
WHAT TYPE OF INDUCTOR?
Suppose you have been shown a circuit requiring a 10nH choke.
Can any type of 10nH choke (inductor) be used?
How many different types of 10nH inductors are there?
How do you know which type to use?
The answer to this very complex. There are many different 10nH inductors and most circuit diagrams do not provide sufficient information for you to get (or make) the correct type.
The value “10nH” is like saying a resistor is “1k.” It does not tell you all the features you need to know such as wattage or tolerance.
The same with a 10nH inductor. The value tells you nothing about its physical size, the size of the winding etc.
A 10nH inductor can be created by winding thick wire or thin wire onto a core of magnetic material. The inductor using thick wire will be larger and the resistance of the coil will be less.
The two 10nH inductors will perform completely differently when connected to some circuits.
The following circuit shows a typical use for an inductor.
It is connected across a piezo diaphragm.
The collapsing magnetic field of the inductor produces a very high voltage and this is passed to the piezo diaphragm to produce a very load output.
For a 12v supply, this voltage can be as high as 120v.
If the inductor has a low resistance, you will have to drive the transistor very hard during a part of each cycle, to produce a current-flow in the inductor.
If the resistance (called the DC resistance) of the inductor is high, the transistor will not have to be driven as hard and thus the circuit will be more efficient.
The same situation occurs with a high-voltage generating circuit, using an inductor, as shown in the diagram below.
If the inductor has a high resistance, the output from the circuit will be very high and the transistor will not have to be driven very hard. In other words, the efficiency of the circuit will be high.
THE “Q-FACTOR”
The ”Q-factor” or Quality-factor refers to the voltage generated by an oscillatory circuit made up of a coil and capacitor. In the circuit below, the coil and capacitor are connected in parallel and this is called an L-C circuit (parallel L-C circuit). When this circuit is added to an FM transmitter, it is given the name ‘”TANK CIRCUIT.”
The two components we are discussing are the coil and capacitor. The transistor is merely the driving component and has nothing to do with the feature of producing the high voltage.
We have already explained how an inductor produces a high voltage when the magnetic flux collapses and this is why the L-C circuit will produce a voltage higher than the supply.
The ratio of the generated-voltage to the supply voltage gives the Q-factor. This can be as low as 1 or 2 for a poorly designed circuit, up to100 or more. The quality depends on how much magnetic flux is produced and how effectively it cuts the turns of the coil.
As the frequency of a circuit increases, the effectiveness of ferrite as a core material decreases. The maximum frequency for ferrite is about 100MHz - 200MHz. At this frequency the difference between air and ferrite is very small. For this reason, air-cored coils are often used.
These are just a few of the uses for an inductor.
The main point of this article is to make you aware of the need to check the resistance of an inductor to see if a high resistance or low resistance version will improve the output of the circuit.
And remember the SECRET …
The inductor produces a REVERSE VOLTAGE when the supply is TURNED OFF:
Slow-motion showing the “reverse voltage” pulse produced by the inductor when the supply is removed.
When a capacitor is added to the circuit, the energy flows from the inductor to the capacitor, and back to the inductor, when the supply is removed, to produce an “oscillatory effect.”
The end result is a sinewave output.
The animation below shows the energy flowing between the components with the “centre-reading” voltmeter detecting the voltage:
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