Inductors crop up everywhere in electronics, from power supplies to audio systems. They’ve got this super useful property called inductance, but there’s something that can throw a wrench in the works—inductor saturation. When an inductor saturates, it doesn’t work the way you might expect, causing some weird results in your circuit. I’m breaking down what … Read more
Air gaps are one of the most important design elements in power inductors and magnetic energy storage components. Proper air gap design strongly affects: Without proper air gap design, a magnetic core may saturate rapidly under DC bias current, causing severe efficiency loss and possible circuit failure. This guide explains how air gaps work and … Read more
Selecting the proper magnetic core material is one of the most important decisions in power inductor design. Core material directly affects: Two of the most common magnetic materials used in power inductors are: Each material offers distinct advantages and tradeoffs depending on the application requirements. This guide explains the major differences between ferrite and powdered … Read more
Selecting the proper wire gauge is one of the most important decisions in power inductor design. Wire size directly affects: Choosing the wrong wire gauge can lead to excessive heating, poor efficiency, difficult winding assembly, or even complete design failure. This guide explains the major engineering considerations involved in selecting wire size for practical power … Read more
Ripple current is one of the most important concepts in switching power supply and magnetic component design. Properly managing ripple current affects efficiency, temperature rise, EMI, core saturation, and long-term reliability. This guide explains what ripple current is, why it matters, and how engineers account for it during practical inductor design. What Is Ripple Current? … Read more
Designing an inductor for a switching power supply involves balancing electrical performance, thermal behavior, manufacturability, efficiency, size, and cost. While inductors may appear simple externally, proper magnetic design requires careful consideration of core materials, winding geometry, current handling, ripple current, saturation limits, and thermal constraints. This guide explains the major concepts involved in practical inductor … Read more
POWER ELECTRONICS GUIDE How to Design an Inductor for a Buck Converter A practical, step-by-step guide to designing a power inductor — including real calculations, tradeoffs, and how to generate a manufacturable design with CAD files in minutes. Design Your Inductor Now What You’ll Learn Introduction Designing an inductor for a buck converter is one … Read more
