Inductors!

[tommis15]

Are axial inductors and coils interchangeable? Are they the same thing?

 

[davenn]

hi
welcome to the forums

A coil is an inductor. would you like to be a bit more specific. have you a particular part(s) in mind ?

Dave

 

[Thedarkb123]

An axial inductor is just a coil which is layed on its side usually mounted on a pcb

 

[shrtrnd]

Like davenn said, we could use a little more information. Inductors have values rated in 'H' (Henries), uH (micro henry), mH (milli henry).
You can't just swap them out, whatever their physical construction, you have to know the value in Henries, of what you want to use.

 

[tommis15]

Sorry for the long time for response. Let's say I take an axial inductor with value 1uh, is it the same as a hand made coil w/ 1uh inductance...

 

[(*steve*)]

Sorry for the long time for response. Let's say I take an axial inductor with value 1uh, is it the same as a hand made coil w/ 1uh inductance...

Yes and no.

One of the parameters is the same. The inductance is presumably 1uH in both cases since that is what you have told us.

But there are a plethora of things that might be different and without further information we can't tell if they are, or if they are important for the circuit.

Here are a few:

• Resistance
• self-resonant frequency
• current carrying capacity
• saturation current
• magnetic shielding
• core losses

 

[CDRIVE]

Here's some additional minutiae to further muddy the water. Solenoid and Relay coils are inductors too but their inductive properties are more of a byproduct than their purpose in life. The same can be said regarding wire wound resistors. In all three cases it would be preferable if they weren't.

Chris

 

[tommis15]

Thank you, now I understand better!

I am a beginner in electronics and don't understand what the following are but atleast I understand they are not the same. (the coil and the axial thing)

• self-resonant frequency
• current carrying capacity
• saturation current
• magnetic shielding
• core losses