In-depth on Inductors with KEMET -- The Learning Circuit 64

I'm new here - don't know if this is the right place to post a question (sorry!).  I saw the Element14 vid on inductors.  (very good!).  It mentioned heat generation through DC resistance, AC resistance/skin effect, and core losses.  The DC resistance calculation is easy enough.  Is there a good way to calculate the other losses (based on frequency and current ) if you have the inductor spec sheet?  Thanks!

To answer your question, I asked William Mak of KEMET and he replied:

"I would go for inductors that resonant above the typical switching frequencies of a switching mode power supply, which is around 2 MHz right now. I would also want power inductors with values from 1uH to 22uH with the highest rated current you can find."

Oh what a simple life you lead

I use capacitors in 0402, 0602, 0805 and 1206 sizes, range of values fro 1pF to 220uF, voltage ranges 6 - 200V, COG, X7R, X5R and Y5U dielectrics and that's just the ceramics - it's way worse than resistors where I get away with just 0402 and 0603 which I keep in E24 range from 1R to 1M.

I don't keep a full range of caps of course, just 0603 from 1pF to 1uF, but I end up buying new parts for almost every project.

Inductors may be even worse, not only a huge range of sizes, values, current ratings etc but far more non-standard packages as well.

@Clemens - the key to keeping either salvaged parts or left overs from projects is to be able to find them again. Otherwise you waste more time looking for them than you save by having them. I keep parts in drawers, little boxes, multi compartment boxes, leftovers in "job" boxes until the job is well and truly dead. Most of the parts not in job boxes are located via a spreadsheet that tells me where they are.

I keep a 12mH 5A inductor on my desk because it's so pretty (and I've had it, and about 9 others like it, for 17 years, and found no use other than as a paperweight for them !)

MK

I picked up one of these http://www.newark.com/velleman-sa/k-cap2/120pc-radial-capacitor-set-10/dp/31AC3452

and one of these http://www.newark.com/velleman-sa/k-cap1/224pc-ceramic-capacitor-set-14/dp/31AC3451

and between the two haven't really needed to buy other values.

Good and informative episode.

DAB

Thanks Karen,

I enjoyed your presentation.

John

I got a question:
is there any recommended set of inductors you should keep at hand for designing generic  curcuits?
In analogy to common resistor values like 10k, 4k7, etc. that engineers usually keep in stock.

I have a bin with random salvaged inductors, but no idea if it makes sense t okeep these random values in stock.