What is a Power Inductor?
A Power Inductor is a two-terminal passive device that is used to store energy in the form of magnetic fields when a current flows through it. It is used in step-up and step-down converters to convert input voltage to a required voltage as per the application. A power inductor is also used to reduce core losses in applications that require voltage conversion and the unit of measurement is Herny (H). It is used to filter EMI noise in AC inputs, filter low frequency ripple current noise, and store energy in DC-to-DC converters. Power Inductors are different from RF or other general inductors.
Key Specifications of Power Inductors:
Inductance: It is the property of an inductor that opposes a change in the magnitude and direction of the current flowing through it.
Inductance Tolerance: It is the variation in the inductance value of an actual inductor compared to the specified value in the datasheet.
Dynamic Control Resistance: It refers to the resistance which is inherent in the metal conductor of the inductor. It is represented as a resistor in series with the inductor.
Saturation Current: It refers to the DC current at which the inductor can no longer store energy. The inductance value drops as the core can only store a limited amount of magnetic flux density.
Self Resonating Frequency: It refers to the frequency at which an inductor stops working as an inductor. In this case, the self-capacitance (parasitic capacitance) of the power inductor resonates with the ideal inductance of the inductor resulting in an extremely high impedance.
Power Inductors from the leading manufacturers are listed on everything PE. You can use the filters on the left side to narrow down the list of products based on your requirements - Type, DCR, SRF, package, and other parameters. Our parametric search tool will scan multiple manufacturer websites to identify Power Inductors that meet your requirement. You can then download datasheets, get pricing and request quotations via everything PE. Your inquiry will be routed to the manufacturer or their representative who will give you more information on the product.
