Enter the Input Voltage, Output Voltage, Load Current, and Switching Frequency into the Buck Converter Calculator to get your Duty Cycle, Inductor Value, Capacitor Value, Efficiency, and Power Loss for your step-down circuit.
Inductance
--
Coil Cross-Sectional Area
--
Turn Spacing
--
Total Wire Length
--
Single-layer coils have turns arranged in a single layer along the coil form, while multi-layer coils have multiple layers of wire. Multi-layer coils achieve higher inductance in a shorter length but have more complex calculations due to interlayer coupling effects.
Relative permeability determines how much the core material enhances the magnetic field compared to air. Air has a relative permeability of 1, while ferrite cores can have values from 10 to 10,000, dramatically increasing inductance for the same coil geometry.
Wire diameter affects the packing density and determines how many turns can fit in each layer. It's crucial for calculating the actual number of layers and the effective coil dimensions, which directly impact the inductance calculation.
Use consistent units throughout your calculation. Millimeters work well for small coils, while centimeters or inches are better for larger coils. The calculator automatically handles unit conversions for accurate results regardless of your choice.
The calculator uses established electromagnetic formulas that are accurate within 5-10% for well-formed coils. Accuracy depends on factors like wire spacing uniformity, coil form precision, and core material consistency.
Yes, simply set the relative permeability to 1 for air-core coils. Air-core coils have lower inductance than ferrite-core coils but offer better stability and no core saturation issues at high currents.
The calculator supports up to 10,000 turns. For very high turn counts, ensure your coil length and wire diameter inputs are realistic, as physical constraints may limit the actual achievable number of turns.
Air cores work best for RF applications and high-current circuits. Ferrite cores with moderate permeability (100-1000) suit general purpose inductors. High permeability cores (>1000) are ideal for transformers and filter inductors but may saturate at high currents.