Outstanding Info About What Happens When You Put Two Inductors In Parallel

Inductors In Parallel YouTube

Inductors in Parallel

Ever wondered what happens when you connect two inductors side-by-side, like buddies sharing a pizza? Well, it's not quite a pizza party, but it is about combining their inductive powers. Think of inductors as little energy storage devices that resist changes in current. They're like tiny, stubborn springs for electricity, pushing back against any sudden jolts. Now, let's see what happens when we team them up in parallel.

When you place inductors in parallel, you're essentially giving the current multiple paths to flow through. Imagine a river splitting into two streams — that's what the current does when it encounters two inductors in parallel. This has a pretty cool effect on the overall inductance of the circuit.

The key takeaway is that the total inductance decreases when you put inductors in parallel. It's like having two small springs working together; they offer less overall resistance to being compressed than a single, larger spring. The exact amount of the decrease depends on the individual inductance values of each inductor. If you've got two identical inductors, the combined inductance is simply half the value of one inductor. Pretty neat, huh?

But here's the thing: real-world inductors aren't always perfect. They have internal resistance, and they can interact with each other through something called mutual inductance. We'll get into that a bit later, but for now, just remember that these factors can make the actual behavior a little more complex than our simple explanation. Think of it like that pizza party — someone's bound to eat more than their fair share, messing up the perfect ratio!

PPT Inductance PowerPoint Presentation, Free Download ID6245207

Calculating the Combined Inductance

1. The Basic Formula (and a Helping of Analogy)

Okay, so you're probably thinking, "Great, inductance decreases. But how much?" Fear not, intrepid explorer of electronics! There's a formula for that. It's actually pretty similar to the formula for calculating parallel resistance, which is another reason to think of them as working inversely! For two inductors, L1 and L2, the total inductance (Ltotal) is given by: 1/Ltotal = 1/L1 + 1/L2. To get Ltotal by itself, you'd rearrange the equation into Ltotal = 1 / (1/L1 + 1/L2). Don't let the fractions intimidate you.

Think of it like this: if you have two pipes carrying water in parallel, the total flow rate increases. Similarly, with inductors, the total 'ease' of current flow (the inverse of inductance) increases. The formula just tells us how to quantify that increase. The total inductance is always less than the smallest individual inductor. It's like having a weak link in a chain; the overall strength is limited by the weakest link, even if the other links are super strong.

For more than two inductors, the formula expands naturally: 1/Ltotal = 1/L1 + 1/L2 + 1/L3 + ... and so on. Just keep adding the inverse of each inductor's inductance until you've included them all. Then, take the inverse of the entire sum to get the total inductance.

Let's say you have three inductors: 2 Henry, 4 Henry and 8 Henry. 1/Ltotal = 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 = 4/8 + 2/8 + 1/8 = 7/8. To calculate Ltotal, we invert the result: Ltotal = 8/7 = 1.143 Henry.

2. Mutual Inductance

Now, let's throw a wrench into the works. Remember how I mentioned mutual inductance? This happens when the magnetic field from one inductor interacts with the magnetic field from another. It's like two people talking — their words can influence each other.

If the magnetic fields aid each other, the effective inductance increases. This is called positive mutual inductance. If the fields oppose each other, the effective inductance decreases. This is called negative mutual inductance. The amount of mutual inductance depends on the physical arrangement of the inductors: how close they are, and how they're oriented relative to each other.

The formula for calculating total inductance with mutual inductance gets a bit more complicated, involving a term for the mutual inductance (M) and a coupling coefficient (k). It's usually something you'd calculate using simulation software if precise values are needed.

In many practical cases, especially if the inductors are physically separated or shielded, the mutual inductance is negligible, and you can safely use the simple formula we discussed earlier. But it's always good to be aware of its potential influence, especially in sensitive circuits. Ignoring it when its significant can lead to unexpected behavior.

Inductors In Parallel. Two L_1 And L_2 Are Connected

Why Use Parallel Inductors? Practical Applications

3. Lowering Inductance

The most straightforward reason to use parallel inductors is to achieve a specific inductance value that isn't readily available in a single component. For example, you might need an inductance of 1.5 mH, but only have 3 mH inductors on hand. Connecting two of them in parallel will give you the desired value.

Another reason might be power handling. Inductors have current and voltage ratings. Connecting two inductors in parallel effectively shares the current load between them, allowing the circuit to handle more power without overheating or damaging the components. It is the principle of sharing is caring.

Parallel inductors are also used in resonant circuits, where they interact with capacitors to create tuned circuits that oscillate at a specific frequency. The inductance value is critical in determining the resonant frequency, so using parallel inductors allows you to fine-tune the circuit's behavior.

Think of it like building a musical instrument. You might combine different strings (inductors) to create the desired sound (frequency). The combination allows you to achieve tones that wouldn't be possible with a single string alone.

4. Filtering and Impedance Matching

Inductors are often used in filters to block certain frequencies while allowing others to pass through. Parallel inductors can be used to tailor the filter's response, creating more complex filter characteristics.

They can also be used for impedance matching, which is the process of making the impedance of a source (like an amplifier) equal to the impedance of a load (like a speaker). This maximizes the power transfer between the source and the load. Parallel inductors can be part of an impedance matching network.

Imagine trying to pour water from a wide pipe into a narrow one. You'll get a lot of splashing and wasted water. Impedance matching is like using an adapter to smoothly connect the two pipes, ensuring that the water flows efficiently without losses.

So, while it might seem like a simple connection, parallel inductors are powerful tools for shaping and controlling electrical signals in a variety of applications.

Inductors Connected In Parallel What To Expect

Things to Watch Out For

5. Current Imbalance

In a perfect world, the current would divide equally between two parallel inductors. However, real-world inductors have tolerances in their inductance values and internal resistance. This can lead to current imbalance, where one inductor carries a larger share of the current than the other.

This imbalance can cause the inductor carrying more current to overheat, potentially leading to failure. It's like one person doing all the work in a group project — they're going to burn out eventually!

To minimize current imbalance, it's best to use inductors with closely matched inductance values and low internal resistance. You can also add small series resistors to each inductor to help equalize the current distribution.

The resistor will make current distributed equally between those inductors. The downside of this method is that we will have power dissipation in resistors and will lower the efficiency of the circuit.

6. Resonance Issues

Inductors have parasitic capacitance, which is unintentional capacitance that exists due to the physical construction of the inductor. When you connect inductors in parallel, the parasitic capacitance also adds up, creating a resonant circuit.

If the circuit is excited at its resonant frequency, it can cause large voltage and current oscillations, potentially damaging the components. It's like hitting a wine glass with just the right frequency — it starts to vibrate uncontrollably.

To avoid resonance issues, you can use inductors with low parasitic capacitance, or add damping resistors to the circuit to dampen the oscillations. Shielding can also help to reduce parasitic capacitance.

Another way to prevent resonance in the circuit is to use inductor that have a wide bandwidth, so it will avoid amplification of unwanted noises.

Diodes In Parallel Configuration YouTube

FAQ

7. Q

A: Absolutely! The formula we discussed earlier works regardless of the inductance values. Just remember that the smaller inductor will have a greater influence on the combined inductance.

8. Q

A: That creates a resonant circuit! It's a fundamental building block in many electronic circuits, but you need to be careful about exciting it at its resonant frequency, as it can lead to large voltage and current oscillations. Be sure to design for that.

9. Q

A: Not really, but there are practical limitations. The more inductors you add, the more complex the circuit becomes, and the more likely you are to encounter issues like current imbalance and resonance. But theoretically, you could have a whole bucket of them if you wanted!

10. Q

A: The pros of using parallel inductors are that you can tailor filter response, can lower overall inductance value, higher current handling. The cons of using parallel inductors are resonance issues, current imbalance, and increased complexity in the circuit.

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Outstanding Info About What Happens When You Put Two Inductors In Parallel

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