MAKE Presents: The Inductor

Technology
MAKE Presents: The Inductor

The deceptively simple coil proves incredibly useful in the world of electronics – the inductor’s ability to store energy in an electromagnetic field is the key to making transformers, electromagnets, and many more components work. It truly is an awesome device!

I knew little of how inductors worked before starting out on this vid. In fact, none of the circuits I’ve built ever called for them specifically. But after a bit of research, I was honestly amazed to learn how they work. The process of mutual induction even inspired this little action-painting/diagram

transformerPainting_cc.jpg

As always, feel free to leave a comment with your ideas/experiences/corrections/take on the matter.

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16 thoughts on “MAKE Presents: The Inductor

  1. cinsel sohbet says:

    Very good. Thanks..

  2. Marc de Vinck says:

    Another great video Collin…Love it!

  3. Odin84gk says:

    Interesting video. The editing and presentation of these concepts have gotten more professional and interesting. I can’t wait until you get into more challenging concepts, such as core saturation.

  4. Anonymous says:

    How do you figure out how many fewer coils you need on one side of the transformer to drop the voltage a certain amount?

    1. Inventorjack says:

      It’s all about ratios. If you have 100 turns on one side, and 10 on the other, it’s a 100:10 (or 10:1) transformer. So if you input 50 volts on the side with 100 turns, you’ll get 5 volts (1/10th) out the side with 10 turns.

  5. Marty says:

    Great instructional video! I wasn’t able to find any info about how you guys are licensing it, though (if at all). Can we reuse/remix/etc. this content?

  6. Mouseclone says:

    would it be possible to get a air coil video? I have been wondering about how these work for a while now.

    1. jammit says:

      An air coil works the same as a coil with a core, except the air core has less inductance than the one with a core. As an example, if you have a cored inductor with 100 turns, and it measures 100 milli henries, another coil with the same number of turns but without a core might be 100 micro henries. The only thing a core does is to give a place for the magnetic field to stay. If the core is “nice” to magnetic energy and can hold a stronger magnetic field, then there is more potential energy that can be stored in it. I like to think of an inductor as a storage device and converter. It converts electrical power into a magnetic field and store it for a while, and can convert a magnetic field into electrical power.

  7. Anonymous says:

    This was well explained. I hope you continue making these.

  8. S says:

    What is that blue box in the video? What does it do? How do I make one?

  9. Inventorjack says:

    Very nice presentation on inductors, Collin. I like how you break it down so nicely. Trying to get my non-technical friends to watch and learn!

  10. Leesam says:

    Any info on the Square wave generator?

  11. Jodex says:

    Could you make one video like this about crystal oscillators? It would be cool to see one video like that!

    -Jodex

  12. MAKE presents: The InductorViral Raid | Viral Raid says:

    […] For questions, suggestions, and more info – makezine.com/2009/11/09/make-presents-the-inductor/ […]

  13. Ahmad Herobrine says:

    What is the name of the wire you used

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