An inductor is a passive component used to store magnetic energy. Its function in a circuit is to hinder the change of current, converting electrical energy into magnetic energy or magnetic energy into electrical energy. An inductor is usually composed of a coil wound with a wire. When current passes through, a magnetic field is formed around the coil. Inductors are widely used in filtering, energy storage, signal conditioning and other scenarios, and are indispensable components in power management and high-frequency circuits.
（★ If you want to know more information, you can refer to the following article: •The Difference Between Shielded Inductors and Unshielded Inductors | Zxcompo Inductor Factory）
🔍How Inductors Work
The basic working principle of inductors is based on the law of electromagnetic induction. When current passes through an inductor, a magnetic field is generated around the inductor and stores magnetic field energy; when the current changes, the magnetic field also changes, generating an electromotive force (reverse voltage) to resist the change in current. This characteristic makes the inductor “resist” the change in current in the circuit, especially in high-frequency circuits.
The unit of inductance is Henry (H), which means that when the current change rate is 1 ampere/second, the electromotive force generated by the inductor is 1 volt. Common inductance values range from microhenry (μH) to millihenry (mH), depending on the application scenario.
（★ If you want to know more information, you can refer to the following article: •Working Principle and Application of SMD Inductor）
🛠️The Role of Inductors
The main functions of inductors in circuits are:
Filtering: Inductors are often combined with capacitors to form filter circuits to filter out high-frequency noise in the power supply and ensure the purity of the DC level.
Energy storage: Inductors can store the magnetic field energy generated by the current and release it when the current changes to keep the circuit stable.
Signal conditioning: Inductors are often used for signal conditioning and transmission in high-frequency circuits, especially in radio frequency circuits and antennas.
Power management: Inductors are widely used in switching power supplies (such as DC-DC converters) to achieve functions such as voltage conversion and voltage stabilization by storing and releasing energy.
🔌 Types of Inductors
Depending on the structure and materials, there are many types of inductors, each suitable for different applications:
Air-core inductors: They have no magnetic core and are suitable for use in high-frequency signal circuits because their magnetic field is not affected by the magnetic core. They also have good high-frequency characteristics.
Ferrite inductors: Ferrite cores are added to the inductor coil to enhance the magnetic field strength of the inductor, which is suitable for low-frequency to medium-frequency applications, such as power supply filtering.
Common-mode inductors: They are used to suppress common-mode interference signals and are common in power line filtering, EMI suppression, etc.
Wirewound inductors: They are formed by winding wires, have a simple structure, and are durable. They are widely used in switching power supplies and electronic filters.
📏 Key Parameters of Inductors
When choosing an inductor, the following parameters are crucial:
Inductance value (L): Indicates the ability of the inductor to store energy and resist current changes. The larger the inductance value, the stronger the anti-interference ability.
Rated current: Indicates the maximum current that the inductor can withstand. Exceeding the rated current will cause the inductor to saturate, affecting its normal operation.
DC resistance (DCR): The resistance of the inductor coil itself. The lower the DCR, the less power the inductor generates in the circuit.
Saturation current: When the current in the inductor exceeds a certain value, the core will saturate, causing the inductance value to drop sharply, affecting the circuit performance.
Quality factor (Q value): Indicates the efficiency of the inductor. The higher the Q value, the lower the energy loss of the inductor, which is suitable for high-frequency applications.
Advantages of Zxcompo Inductors
Zxcompo products include multilayer power inductors, wound surface mount inductors, and molded surface mount inductors for power and signal lines. A full range of passive electronic and magnetic components including inductors, capacitors, resistors, transformers, and filters are available. Our products are widely used in automotive, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and other fields. Each product is designed to achieve performance and maximize signal and power efficiency while saving space.
Other Advantages Include:
Fully automated manufacturing
High-reliability AEC-Q200
ISO 9001 quality standards
RoHS compliant
REACH compliant
Why Choose Zxcompo?
Our company has more than 1,000 types of inductors and 15 years of experience in this field. It is a product that produces extremely low resistance over a wide frequency range. Zxcompo is widely recognized by a global technical team for designing, manufacturing, and providing high-quality, high-performance signal integrity and noise filtering solutions.
Zxcompo brand inductors, also known as coils or reactors, are passive electronic components that resist changes in the current flowing through them. Core material, winding type and geometry play a critical role in the performance of power inductors. Shipping worldwide. Simply contact us for samples: sales@ZXcompo.com.
