Power Factor Correction (PFC) stages are commonly used in industrial power supplies, EV chargers, telecom equipment, and high-power AC-DC converters. One of the most critical components in a boost PFC stage is the boost inductor. In this example, we will walk through the design process for a 2 kW continuous-conduction-mode (CCM) PFC inductor. The objective … Read more

One of the most common problems encountered in power electronics is excessive inductor temperature rise. An inductor may meet its electrical requirements while still running too hot for long-term reliability. Excessive temperature can: This guide explains the major causes of inductor heating and the techniques engineers use to reduce temperature rise. Why Inductors Get Hot … Read more

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is one of the most common challenges encountered in power electronics design. A converter may meet every electrical requirement while still failing EMI testing. In many cases, the inductor plays a significant role in the generation and control of electromagnetic emissions. This guide explains the key factors engineers consider when designing inductors … Read more

Flyback converters are among the most widely used isolated power supply topologies in industrial and consumer electronics. This example demonstrates the engineering process involved in designing a flyback transformer for a 400VDC to 24VDC power supply. The goal is to illustrate the design workflow rather than produce a final production-ready magnetic component. Design Requirements Input … Read more

Modern processors operate at extremely low voltages while consuming large amounts of current. A server CPU, GPU, FPGA, or AI accelerator may require: These applications require carefully optimized inductors capable of handling high current while maintaining efficiency and thermal performance. In this example, we will walk through the design process for a single-phase regulator supplying … Read more

One of the best ways to understand magnetic design is to work through a practical example. In this article we will examine the design process for a buck converter inductor used to convert 48V DC into 12V DC at 10A output current. The goal is not to create a production-ready design, but to demonstrate the … Read more

Efficiency is one of the most important performance metrics in modern power electronics. Whether designing a DC-DC converter, motor drive, battery charger, or industrial power supply, engineers want magnetic components that deliver maximum performance with minimum loss. Unfortunately, no inductor is perfectly efficient. Every inductor generates losses that reduce overall system efficiency and increase operating … Read more

One of the most common mistakes engineers make when selecting or designing an inductor is choosing a current rating that appears acceptable on paper but fails under real operating conditions. Many designers focus only on average current while ignoring ripple current, saturation limits, and thermal performance. The result can be excessive heating, reduced efficiency, and … Read more

One of the most common questions engineers face when selecting magnetic components is whether to use a shielded or unshielded inductor. The answer depends on several factors including: Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. This guide explains the differences and helps engineers determine which option is best for their application. What Is a Shielded Inductor? … Read more

When engineers evaluate inductors, they often focus on inductance, current rating, and saturation performance. However, another important parameter is Q factor, sometimes called the Quality Factor. Q factor provides insight into how efficiently an inductor stores energy compared to how much energy it dissipates as loss. Understanding Q factor is useful in power electronics, filter … Read more