Inductor

The Inductor

The inductor is one of the basic electrical components used in practical circuits as well as circuit analysis. Its family sits alongside the resistor, capacitor and memristor.

Inductors are given names tied to their applications, eg:

- Choke / RFC,  to allow DC but block AC current

- Ballast, to provide a high voltage kick to start flourescent lamps (with other components)

- Reactor / Saturable reactor, used in AC arc welders 

- Coil / Tesla Coil / Ignition Coil, used in both Kettering and EFI systems 

- Transformer / Auto transformer, two or more inductances

- Speaker / Headphones

- Electric motors

- Fuel Injectors, used in EFI systems

- Relay

- Electromagnet,

- MagLev trains

- Antenna, even a rado antenna can exhibit inductance at certain frequencies.

Units Of Measurement

The modern day unit of measurement for an inductor is the "Henry".  All practical realisations of inductors also have resistance, and it is this combination of inductance and resistance that defines the Quality ( Q Factor) of an inductor.