Wirewound Inductor

Wirewound inductors are widely used in a variety of electronic applications. In power supplies, they are used to filter out unwanted high-frequency noise and ripple resulting from rectification. They can be found in filters, allowing for the blocking or noise cancellation at specific frequencies. In audio processing circuits, wirewound inductors are used to implement band-pass filters, tone control circuitry or crossover networks for speakers. They are utilized as inductors in DC-DC converters, switch-mode power supplies, and switching regulators, regulating current flow through the system. They are commonly used in industrial applications such as welding equipment and motor control circuits, as well as in consumer electronics, including televisions, computers, and various home gadgets.

Copper and aluminum are the most common wire materials used in wirewound inductors. Copper is preferred in most cases due to its high conductivity and corrosion resistance properties. For high-frequency applications, silver-plated copper or aluminum wire is commonly used. The core of a wirewound inductor can be made from a range of magnetic materials, depending on the application. Iron powder or ferrite core materials are cost-effective and offer high magnetic permeability. Metallic alloy materials such as permalloy, amorphous core, and nanocrystalline core materials have high magnetic permeability and are used for high-frequency applications. Additionally, ceramic or plastic materials are used for the packaging of wirewound inductors.

A fixed wirewound inductor has a fixed inductance value and is common in high-frequency applications. They have a simple construction and are cost-effective. Variable wirewound inductors have a variable inductance value allowing for varying inductance settings. They have a multi-turn construction that utilizes an adjustable core, which can be moved in or out to modify the amount of magnetic material used in the inductor. Additionally, the variable wirewound inductor offers continuous tunability for precise circuit design. Variable inductors are commonly used in various applications where the inductance needs to be adjusted, including radio frequency (RF) circuits, oscillators, and resonant circuits. However, variable inductors are more costly compared to fixed inductors due to their construction complexity.