Toroidal Inductors & Coils: Types, Materials and Benefits
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Introduction
Descriptions and applications for toroidal inductors and coils with a list of manufacturers and the many uses for toroidal inductors and coils
You will learn:
What are Toroidal Inductors and Coils?
How Toroidal Inductors and Coils are Made
Uses for Toroidal Inductors and Coils
Types of Toroidal Inductors and Coils
And much more …
Chapter 1: Understanding Toroidal Inductors
Toroidal inductors and coils serve as passive electrical components designed to store energy in their magnetic fields while resisting variations in current as electricity flows through them. These components are crafted from insulated wires wound around cores shaped like donuts, which enhance magnetic field strength and inductance. This donut shape ensures that magnetic field lines form closed loops, effectively confining the field within the core material. The symmetrical design of toroidal cores minimizes leakage flux, thereby reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) compared to other core designs.
A toroidal inductor or coil fundamentally relies on its toroid shape, often likened to a donut or hollow circular ring. When comparing it to a solenoid, toroids are identified as circular solenoids, also wound to generate magnetic fields. The calculation of a toroid's magnetic field involves Ampere’s circuit law. As electrical components, toroids are wound with numerous copper wire turns, forming the basis of toroidal inductors and coils.
Frequently, the terms toroidal inductors and toroidal coils are used interchangeably because both possess two terminal electrical components, allowing them to resist current fluctuations. The wire wrapping around the donut-shaped core of the inductor facilitates the creation of its magnetic field. When electricity enters an inductor, the magnetic field captures and stores the energy.
The function of toroidal inductors and coils is characterized by inductance, which filters ripple currents at the output. High inductance values result in reduced ripple currents, enhancing circuit efficiency and diminishing EMI. Inductance does not oppose current directly but resists changes in current flow. When combined with capacitors, toroidal inductors and coils form tuned LC circuits, essential for transmitting and receiving radio and microwave frequency signals.
The magnetic field calculation in a toroid is performed using Ampere’s circuit law, pioneered by André-Marie Ampère, whose research focused on the forces affecting current-carrying wires. Ampere is renowned for laying the foundations of electromagnetism, coinciding with Michael Faraday’s introduction of Faraday’s law during the same era.
Ampere’s law indicates that magnetic fields are connected to the electric currents generating them and maintain this relationship as long as the electric field remains unchanged. Conductors facilitate currents, creating magnetic fields that encircle the wires. Toroidal inductors and coils are adept at retaining electromagnetic fields due to their circular design, preventing the escape of magnetic fields.
Chapter 2: How a Toroidal Inductor Works
Square cores have been used for many years as inductors but have been found to be inefficient due to the high amount of leakage flux that escapes outside the core. The symmetrical shape of toroidal inductor cores provides superior magnetic confinement, limiting leakage flux and guaranteeing that the inductance will cause less electromagnetic interference (EMI) than that of square-shaped inductors. As a result, toroidal inductors are a preferred choice in high-efficiency electronic circuit designs. The common applications of toroidal inductors include power supply circuits, audio amplifiers, power inverters, and various types of switching and linear power supplies. Their robust performance in managing large inductance requirements and their ability to minimize EMI and radio frequency interference (RFI) fuel the growing demand for toroidal inductors across the electronics industry. This increased demand has led to the development of multiple toroidal inductor types—each engineered to meet specialized market needs such as compact design, high power handling, or elevated temperature tolerance.
Toroidal or Doughnut Shaped Circular Core
The cores of toroidal inductors are constructed from magnetic materials with varying levels of electrical resistivity, hysteresis, and magnetic permeability. Core materials frequently include ferrite, powdered iron, nanocrystalline alloys, and amorphous metals, each selected based on impedance, frequency response, and efficiency for targeted applications. Electrical resistivity is the opposite of conductivity and measures a material's ability to resist the flow of current; higher resistivity is preferable in inductor core materials to reduce eddy current losses, critical in high frequency inductor design. Toroidal inductor cores are specifically engineered to resist the flow of alternating current while smoothing fluctuations in voltage or current within a circuit, performing essential functions such as filtering, energy storage, and voltage regulation.
Hysteresis, the lag of magnetic flux density behind the magnetic field strength, is especially critical in power electronics and switched-mode power supplies (SMPS), as core hysteresis losses can impact overall system efficiency. Understanding the hysteresis loop of core materials helps electrical engineers select cores with optimal retentivity and coercivity, balancing magnetic performance with energy loss mitigation in applications like chokes and transformers.
Magnetic permeability—how readily a material forms or enhances a magnetic field—directly influences the inductor's performance characteristics, determining core loss and energy handling capability. High initial permeability enables toroidal inductors to achieve high inductance values with fewer windings and low core loss for operation in devices ranging from DC-DC converters to electromagnetic interference filters. Depending on the core material, toroidal inductors offer permeabilities from 750 micrometers (µ) to over 15,000 µ, providing versatility for both low and high frequency circuits.
The primary purpose of toroidal inductors is to support low frequencies, sustain large inductances, and maintain signal integrity within electronic circuits. Their carefully wound wires and closed-ring design substantially reduce stray magnetic fields compared to comparable solenoid inductors. As toroidal inductor technology advances, variations continue to be introduced to accommodate a broader spectrum of power management, signal filtering, and noise suppression requirements in consumer electronics, industrial automation, renewable energy systems, and automotive electronics.
Low Loss Toroidal Inductor
Low loss toroidal inductors are engineered for high efficiency and high current management in advanced power electronics. These high-current inductors are often vertically mounted, optimizing PCB real estate and maintaining exceptional thermal and electrical performance. The use of advanced core materials and an engineered air gap minimizes core losses and allows for high energy storage capability, making these toroidal inductors ideal for switching power supplies, DC-DC converters, and RF filter design. Shielding is typically integrated to guard against EMI and RFI, vital for compliance with stringent electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards. Low magnetostriction core materials are selected to further reduce acoustic noise emissions, improving suitability for sensitive environments in telecom infrastructure, medical devices, instrumentation, and high-reliability commercial and industrial electronics. Their efficient magnetic flux paths and thermal stability contribute to reliable performance across a wide range of power electronics applications.
High Temperature Toroidal Inductors
High temperature toroidal inductors are manufactured from specialized materials capable of withstanding temperatures up to 200°C (392°F), essential for demanding applications such as automotive powertrains, electric vehicle charging stations, solar energy inverters, and industrial automation. Without high-temperature construction, standard toroidal inductors risk permanent degradation, magnetic saturation, or core damage under thermal stress. According to Pierre Curie’s research, the Curie temperature rating defines when a core material loses its magnetism—a critical specification for inductor longevity and reliability. As electronics circuitry is increasingly deployed in environments with extreme thermal fluctuations, selecting toroidal inductors rated for high thermal endurance ensures consistent inductance values, minimal magnetic loss, and long-term operational stability.
High Current Toroidal Inductors (HCTI)
High current toroidal inductors (HCTIs) are designed with enhanced high-frequency magnetic characteristics, broad inductance, and elevated current-carrying capacity, supporting inductance values from 10 µH up to 1000 µH and current ratings ranging from 2.4 A to 20 A. These inductors integrate low stray EMI features and efficient thermal dissipation, making them ideal for high power, high current PCB applications such as switching power supplies, battery management systems, and energy storage modules. Configurable for both vertical and horizontal mounting, HCTIs deliver compact footprints while maintaining robust performance. Their ability to reliably handle high ripple currents and minimize overheating makes them indispensable in industrial power electronics, renewable energy infrastructure, and performance-critical automotive electronic systems.
Current Sensing Toroidal Inductor
Current sensing toroidal inductors exploit advanced magnetic flux modulation to precisely measure electrical current, thanks to their highly permeable core materials and well-engineered windings. Their principal function is stepping down alternating currents (AC) for accurate measurement and monitoring, often in tandem with measurement instruments like ammeters, digital current transducers, or data acquisition systems. Designed for high linearity and sensitivity, these toroidal current sensors deliver excellent performance in power generation, transmission, smart metering, and protective relay applications. Their closed magnetic circuit minimizes external field influence—providing stability, low noise, and high accuracy in complex circuitry such as grid-tied inverters and industrial process control.
Toroidal inductors acting as fluxgate current transducers use a combination of drive and sense—and sometimes feedback—windings to modulate the core’s magnetic flux. This results in low distortion AC signals proportional to the measured primary current. The inherent design of the toroidal core supports closed-loop operation in current transformers, offering superior isolation, bandwidth, and signal fidelity compared to traditional open-core designs.
The robust construction and high precision of current sensing toroidal inductors make them critical for modern power management, enabling intelligent control systems, grid stability solutions, and advanced motor drives. Their role continues to expand in the era of smart grids and renewable energy integration.
Direct Current (DC) Resistance (DCR) Inductors
Toroidal inductors generally allow DC current to pass while blocking high-frequency AC signals, making them valuable components in noise filtering, DC chokes, and low pass filter designs. The DCR (Direct Current Resistance) of an inductor represents its intrinsic resistance to signals at 0 Hz, directly impacting energy efficiency, heat dissipation, and the inductor’s suitability for power supply applications. For sensitive circuits, minimizing DCR is essential to reduce power loss, thermal load, and to ensure optimum performance in voltage regulator modules (VRMs), buck converters, or audio crossovers.
DCR can range from less than 1 Ohm up to approximately 4 Ohms, depending on wire gauge, winding configuration, and core design. Excessive DCR introduces voltage drop and heat, which is why low DCR toroidal inductors are preferred for high efficiency switching power applications. While DCR may appear insignificant, it can substantially reduce inductor efficiency and negatively affect long-term reliability, making routine measurements (using multimeters or LCR meters) a recommended part of inductor quality assurance. Paying careful attention to DCR when selecting toroidal inductors aligns the inductor’s specifications with the needs of modern high efficiency electronic designs.
Coupled Toroidal Inductor
Coupled toroidal inductors incorporate two or more magnetic windings, enabling operation as energy transfer devices in DC-DC converters, flyback transformers, and filter circuits. By coupling energy from a primary winding to one or more secondary windings, these toroidal inductors facilitate efficient voltage conversion, isolation, and load sharing among interconnected circuits. Shielding from electromagnetic interference is maintained through the inherent closed magnetic path of the toroid, a critical benefit for applications requiring consistent signal integrity. The number of windings, winding ratio, and core material dictate the magnetic coupling, leakage inductance, and overall efficiency, making them a flexible option in switching regulators, PFC circuits, and isolated power supply topologies.
Surface Mount Device (SMD) Toroidal Inductors
SMD toroidal inductors are specifically designed for automated assembly in compact electronic devices, leveraging thin, flat windings around tightly dimensioned toroidal cores. The protective epoxy or encapsulation coating shields the winding from mechanical damage and environmental contaminants, boosting reliability in high-density circuit board layouts. Their compact form factor and diverse inductance and current ranges make them invaluable in modern surface-mount technology (SMT), supporting high-volume manufacturing for communications hardware, mobile devices, and automotive control modules.
These toroidal inductors exhibit strong thermal resilience, shock and vibration resistance, and deliver sustained performance in harsh operating environments—making them ideal for IoT devices, wearables, and high-speed digital equipment. Their versatility and durability are further reflected in their ability to handle switching noise suppression, voltage spike filtering, and EMI suppression, which are essential for miniaturized, high-reliability electronic assemblies.
Slotted Toroidal Inductors
Slotted toroidal inductors represent a unique adaptation where a precisely engineered slot is cut through the toroid’s cross-section, targeting specific circuit needs where excessive inductance, DC bias effects, or core saturation from standard ferrite toroids present challenges. Used primarily in custom filter networks and specialized sensor interfaces, this design minimizes inductance where fewer winding turns are used or where flux density manipulation is essential. The presence of the slot helps tune the inductor's characteristics within its magnetic saturation limits, offering engineers an alternative to bobbin wound inductors and supporting advanced tuning in RF, analog, and precision sensing circuits.
Mounting
Mounting methods for toroidal inductors are crucial to optimizing both electrical and mechanical performance within modern electronic assemblies. Selection depends on the application’s requirements for current carrying capacity, thermal management, and available circuit board real estate. The most common toroidal inductor mounting techniques are horizontal, vertical, through-hole, and surface mounting (SMD), each supporting different design constraints and assembly practices.
Horizontal Mountings – Horizontal mountings place toroidal inductors on their sides, with each toroid having unique termination points, configurations, and dimensions. Soldering the leads to the terminal ensures strong mechanical and electrical connections. This orientation is favored for larger toroids and where board height is limited, common in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), line reactors, and industrial power modules.
Vertical Mountings – Vertical mounting offers valuable space savings on densely populated printed circuit boards (PCBs) and is among the most cost-efficient forms of inductor placement. Plastic supports are typically used for vertical orientation, allowing quick assembly and easy cleaning. This approach is widely adopted in power module compact designs for computers, telecom, and lighting electronics.
Through Hole Mounting – In through-hole mounting, toroidal inductors are inserted and soldered directly to the circuit board through pre-drilled holes, supporting both horizontal and vertical orientations. Through-hole technology enhances mechanical stability, current carrying capacity, and is preferred for high-power or high-vibration environments. This method is extensively used in heavy-duty industrial electronics, automotive power systems, and high-reliability circuit modules.
Surface Mounting (SMD) – Surface mounting is a cost-effective, high-throughput PCB assembly method, compatible with robotic placement and reflow soldering. The leads of the toroidal inductor rest flat on the PCB, minimizing assembly time and maximizing placement density. SMD mounting supports the miniaturization of electronic devices while enhancing their longevity, mechanical endurance, and reliability in fields ranging from personal electronics to aerospace computing.
Toroidal inductors are indispensable in modern electronics due to their compact size, affordability, reliability, and versatility. Their diverse construction and mounting options empower engineers to tailor passive components precisely to circuit requirements—delivering optimal energy efficiency, electromagnetic compatibility, and performance consistency from prototyping to large-scale manufacturing across the rapidly evolving electronics industry.
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Chapter 3: The Toroidal Inductor Process
Toroidal inductors operate on the relationship between current and magnetic fields. The interrelationship between electric current and magnetic fields was discovered by Hans Christian Ørsted in 1820, when he noticed the needle on a compass next to a wire moved such that it was perpendicular to the wire. As electric current in a wire increases, the strength of the generated magnetic field increases. The coiling of wire around a toroid further increases the strength of the magnetic field and concentrates the field in the center of the coil.
Changes in the flow of the electric current, changes the magnetic field, which produces voltage that opposes the change in the electric current flow, known as electromotive force (EMF), a factor that is proportional to the rate of change in the current in the coil. As the electric current increases, the EMF opposes the increase with the reverse being true when the current decreases.
Inductance
Inductance describes how a circuit element stores energy in a magnetic field and is measured in henry (H). It is represented by the letter L and defined as the ratio of the voltage across a circuit element to the rate of change in the current that moves through it. The created magnetic field in a wire due to the flow of current induces voltage in nearby conductive materials. In the case of a toroidal inductor, the conductive material is the coil of wire around the toroid core.
Toroidal Core
The core of a toroidal inductor serves as the inductor and is composed of a magnetic core and its coiled wires. The wound wires of the core are the factors of a toroidal inductor that generates the magnetic field that stores electrical charge. The high inductance of a toroidal inductor is due to the closed loop core that generates a strong magnetic field and the production of very low electromagnetic interference. The closed loop design also does not have gaps, a factor that prevents leakage.
One of the common materials used to produce toroidal cores is ferrite, which is a non-metallic, high resistive material with dielectric properties. Ferrite has high magnetic permeability with high frequencies. The three types of ferrite are permanent, soft, and microwave with soft ferrite being the most commonly used for toroidal inductors due to producing little or no residual magnetic field.
Quality Factor
The quality factor, referred to as the Q factor, is a measure of how well an inductor stores and releases energy. The Q factor is important when choosing a toroidal inductor, especially when it comes to choosing a toroidal inductor for an application that requires high efficiency with low power loss. As with all aspects of an inductor, the Q factor is influenced by wire material, wire diameter, and the type of core material.
Resonant Frequency
The resonant frequency of a toroidal inductor is the frequency an inductor exhibits maximum reactance and minimum impedance. It is the frequency at which a toroidal inductor’s reactance nullifies its resistance leading to pure resistivity impedance. Resonant frequency is the inductance of the coil, capacitance between the coils, and capacitance between the coils and conductive elements in the circuit. Toroidal inductors have increased reactance when operating above their resonant frequency. Operating a toroidal inductor above its resonant frequency can lead to decreased efficiency, heat dissipation, and damage to the inductor.
Temperature Coefficient
The temperature coefficient of a toroidal inductor is a measurement of how the coils change in relation to the temperature. As with several forms of electronics, the temperature of a toroidal inductor determines the applications where it can be used. The properties of the coil wire and core strongly influence the temperature coefficient. An increase in the temperature surrounding a toroidal inductor increases the resistance of the core and wire, which causes a decrease in inductance.
Saturation Current
The saturation current is the maximum current that a toroidal inductor can handle before inductance decreases. When the core material becomes saturated, the strength of the magnetic field in the core reaches its maximum level, which causes a decrease in inductance. Inductors with large cores and a high number of wire turns can handle higher currents and are normally chosen for high current applications.
To determine which toroidal inductor to choose for an application, manufacturers provide data sheets that outline the saturation current, which is calculated or estimated in accordance with the core materials and the core’s geometry. As a general rule, it is important to choose a toroidal inductor with a saturation current that is higher than the maximum current that is expected from an application, which prevents saturation degradation.
Chapter 4: Types of Core Materials
Televisions, sound systems, and computers rely on inductors for their performance. Unfortunately, certain types of inductors produce EMI interference, flux leakage, and an assorted list of other problems. Toroidal inductors were introduced to overcome the problems presented by other forms of inductors. They have become highly popular due to being compact, lightweight, and having high efficiency.
There is a wide selection of materials that are used to manufacture the cores of toroidal inductors, which include ceramic, powder, and magnetic metals. Each of the various types of materials reacts differently, a factor that necessitates the selection of a core that fits the frequency and requirements of an application. The materials for a toroidal inductor are magnetic with varying levels of resistivity, hysteresis, and magnetic permeability. The efficiency and effectiveness of a toroidal inductor depends on the quality of the magnetic materials that make up the core.
Ferrite Cores
Ferrite cores are the most common type of core. They are produced using metal oxide ceramic and iron oxide that is mixed with nickel, manganese, cobalt, copper, or zinc. Of the various combinations of materials, manganese zinc ferrite and nickel zinc ferrite cores are the most popular.
Manganese Zinc Ferrite (MnZn Ferrite) – Manganese zinc ferrite cores are soft magnetic ferrite with a spinel structure composed of iron, manganese, zinc oxides, and ceramic salts. They have a low coercivity and high permeability with a frequency range of 1kHz up to 10 kHz due to low magnetic loss at high frequencies. Since toroidal inductors change their magnetic field multiple times per second, MnZn ferrite cores are ideal for such conditions due to their low coercivity and low loss.
Nickel Zinc Ferrite (NiZn Ferrite) – The outstanding quality of NiZn ferrite cores is their high working frequency and high impedance. They are used to suppress high frequency noise from cables. NiZn ferrite cores have a working frequency from 1MHz up to GHz. They are easier to miniaturize and widely used for DC-DC converters and small inductors. NiZn ferrite cores have high permeability and resistivity and can operate in high temperature applications.
Powdered Metal Cores
Powdered metal cores are made using grains of metal alloys that are combined with insulating materials. The mixture is placed under a great deal of pressure to achieve the required shape and density. Powder metal cores have high resistivity and have low hysteresis and eddy current losses. They have exceptional inductance stability for DC and AC conditions. Since powder metal cores are not pressed with a binder, they do not endure thermal aging.
Laminated Iron Alloy Cores
Laminated iron alloy cores are made by rolling sheets of metal and pressing them together to achieve the proper toroidal shape. The shaped materials are placed in layers that are laminated with insulating material, a construction that reduces eddy currents. The alloying metals for laminated iron cores are nickel iron and silicon iron with nickel iron laminated cores being used for high frequency applications. Silicon iron laminated cores are used to minimize DC resistance and lower saturation distortion.
Taped Wound Cores
Taped wound toroidal cores are produced by special machines that wind insulated tape on a mandrel with controlled tension for a uniform cross section. Once the cores are wound, they are annealed in an atmosphere of hydrogen and nitrogen to develop magnetic characteristics. Since annealed cores are sensitive to mechanical stress, taped cores are housed in cases to protect them from the electrical windings and other potential problems. Cases are made from a variety of materials including plastics, phenolic, nylon, glass reinforced nylon, and aluminum with non-metallic cases being the most widely used.
The types of cores described above are a small sampling of the many cores that are used to produce toroidal inductors. Materials that have not been included are molypermalloy powder cores, nickel iron powder cores, Kool Mμ, various versions of Xflux, and gapped ferrite cores.
Chapter 5: Toroidal Inductor Wire Windings
The winding or fill factor for a toroidal inductor is carefully calculated prior to winding wires around the core. The fill factor for toroidal inductor cores is the ratio of the conductor cross section and the area of the core. For toroidal inductor cores, the winding factor varies between 20% and 60% with most applications ranging between 35% and 40%.
The windings of a toroidal inductor are spread over the surface of the core to provide higher flux density since the rolling flux is in the same direction as the rolling direction of the core, which saves on volume and weight. Higher current density can flow through the wires of a toroidal inductor due to the distribution of the wires over the core that leads to efficient cooling of the windings.
The wire for most toroidal inductors is made from electrolytically refined copper that is coated with one to four layers of a polymer film insulation. The insulation of the wire acts as a flux. The Q factor for the wire is that the wire should be as large as possible and still be able to fit the turns on the core without overlapping around the inner circumference. Turns on the inside can touch or come very close to touching. A turn is counted when the wire passes through the center of the toroid.
Wire Considerations
There are several ways to wind copper wire around a toroidal core with hand winding being the simplest. As the diameter of wire increases, more tension is required to form the wire around the body of the core. Great care is necessary during the winding process to avoid stretching or breaking the wire or cracking the core.
Turns – The turns of the winding of wire around the core are the number of times the wire passes through the hole in the core. Turns are counted in whole numbers, and there are never half turns. The inductance of a coil on a toroidal core is proportional to the number of turns squared
Wire Gauge – The gauge of wire refers to the thickness of a wire and is represented by a number with smaller numbers representing thicker gauges. The standard method for measuring wire gauges is from American Wire Gauge (AWG), which was developed in the United States for conductive wire. The gauge of wire has to be carefully selected due to certain circuits requiring a specific thickness of wire. Using wires that are too thin can result in failures or other problems.
Target Inductance – There is a formula that engineers and designers use to calculate the inductance of the wires for a toroidal inductor. The formula provides the level of inductance and is used in the choices of wires for toroidal inductors.
Steps used when Manufacturing a Toroidal Inductor:
Specifications – The specifications for the structure of a toroidal inductor coil include the number of turns, the gauge of the wire, and the desired inductance.
Core Preparation – Prior to the winding process, the toroidal core is secured and cleaned such that it is kept stable and secure.
Winding Process – The wire for a toroidal inductor core is wound in a circular pattern. The direction of the winding and the number of turns are completed in accordance with the established specifications for the inductor.
Secure the Wire – Once the winding is completed, the end of the wire needs to be secured such that it does not unravel. This aspect of the process is simple and is completed in a variety of ways.
Inductance Check – Even though every step of the process has been completed in accordance with the plan, the final step in the process is to check the inductance of the completed core to determine if it meets the target inductance. A multimeter or inductance meter is used as a method of verification to ensure the winding meets the target inductance level.
Insulation – In many cases, insulation, which comes in several forms, can be applied to the wires on the core for protection and for improved performance.
Chapter 6: Uses for Toroidal Inductors
The purpose of toroidal inductors is for energy efficiency when low frequency inductance is required. They are widely used due to their ability to prevent leakage flux and the likelihood of electromagnetic interference. The compact size of toroidal inductors makes them useful in amplifiers, inverters, and power supplies.
The assortment of applications where toroidal inductors are used include telecommunications, medical equipment, industrial controls, music instruments, ballasts, electronic brakes, refrigeration, electronic clutches, amplifiers, and air conditioners.
Toroidal inductors are used in different electronic circuits such as inverters, power supplies, and electronic equipment including computers, radios, televisions, and audio sound systems.
A common use for toroidal inductors is in switch mode power supplies, EMI sensitive circuits, and filters to block high frequency noise and interference from power supply lines to allow DC current to pass. Toroidal inductors are used with capacitors to remove frequencies from signals
Toroidal Transformers
One of the uses for toroidal coils is in high frequency transformers that convert AC current from one voltage to another. The shape of a toroidal inductor used in a toroidal transformer has higher inductance than typical solenoid inductors. The toroid shape enhances efficiency, has higher inductance, and can carry greater current. In addition, the toroidal shape limits resistance due to its larger diameter and fewer windings.
As with most toroidal inductors, toroidal transformers operate quietly with very few stray magnetic fields or EMIs. Their design and weight make them adaptable to any application. The toroidal design and shape increases efficiency due to its elimination of air gaps, allowing a transformer to operate at a higher Tesla measurement.
Other Applications
Power Supply and DC-DC Conversion – In power supplies and DC-DC converters, toroidal inductors are used to store energy and regulate current flow. They reduce noise, improve efficiency, and provide a stable output voltage.
Energy Storage – Toroidal inductors store energy in magnetic fields that is released when the current flow is interrupted. They are used in pulse generators, high-voltage power supplies, and electric motors.
Tuning Circuits – In tuning circuits, toroidal inductors are used to adjust the frequency response of filters or resonant circuits.
Transformers – Toroidal inductors are used as primary or secondary coils in transformers to transfer energy between circuits.
Sensors – As sensors, toroidal inductors are used in various applications including proximity sensors, metal detection sensors, and for magnetic field measurement.
Lighting – In many cases, fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) lighting require control of the flow of current to ensure a stable output. The size and compactness of toroidal inductors makes them an ideal control mechanism.
Chapter 7: Advantages of Toroidal Inductors
The main factor that separates toroidal inductors from other forms of inductors is their shape, which is a closed loop donut that enables a toroidal inductor to concentrate magnetic flux in the core. The primary function of a toroidal inductor is to resist change in the flow of current.
The wide use of toroidal inductors is due to how efficiently they perform. The many designs and compact sizes of toroidal inductors makes them flexible enough to fit into any space. In many cases, they are combined with a capacitor to increase efficient operation of an application.
Advantages of Toroidal Inductors
Advantage
High Inductance
The toroidal shape of toroidal inductors creates a closed loop that results in higher inductance values.
Wide Frequency Range
The wide frequency range or toroidal inductors makes them flexible and adaptable for a variety of applications.
Low EMI
The low EMI emissions that are radiated by toroidal inductors prevents damage to nearby electric circuits and components
Compact Size
The toroidal design of toroidal inductors is compact and enables the inductors to be used in applications where size is z concern.
Light Weight
The fewer material used to produce toroidal inductors makes them lighter.
Strong Magnetic Field
The closed loop design produces a strong magnetic field.
Quieter
One of the outstanding characteristics of toroidal inductors is their quiet operation due to the lack of an air gap.
Short Windings
The short windings increase electrical performance, efficiency, and reduces distortion and fringing effects.
Equilibrium
The equilibrium of a toroidal inductor allows very small magnetic flux to escape from the core.
Conclusion
Toroidal inductors are used for energy efficiency where low frequency inductance is required. They are in the form of a toroid or donut, a shape that provides more inductance per turn.
Toroidal inductors provide higher inductance due to the closed loop core having a stronger magnetic field, since the magnetic field occupies every part of the core.
The wide use of toroidal inductors is due to their high efficiency, the elimination of electromagnetic interference, no air gap, quiet performance, and the use of less energy.
The main component of a toroidal inductor is its core, which can be made of various forms of materials with different types of ferrites being the most commonly used.
Toroidal inductors are passive components made of a core and coils of insulated or enameled wire wound in the shape of a donut. They are used for low frequency applications where high inductance is necessary.
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An electrical transformer is a passive machine that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another using a magnetic flux to induce an electromotive force. Transformers are used to increase (step-up) or decrease (step-down) voltages without changing the frequency of the electric current...
Toroidal Transformers
A toroidal transformer is a type of electrical transformer constructed with a torus or donut-shaped core. Its primary and secondary windings are wound across the entire surface of the torus core separated by an insulating material...
Types of Electric Transformers
Electronically operated equipment depends on power transformers to convert electrical currents into voltage. Current transformers store and transport energy through power lines and grids...
Types of Power Cords
Thomas Edison developed the power distribution system in 1882. He wrapped a copper rod in jute, a soft shiny fiber from plants, as an insulator. The jute wrapped copper rod was placed in a pipe with a bituminous compound...