ARRL guidance on design of ferrite cored inductors

The ARRL handbook for radio communications (Ward 2011) gives guidance on designing with ferrite cored inductors:

Ferrite cores are often unpainted, unlike powdered-iron toroids. Ferrite toroids and rods often have sharp edges, while powdered-iron toroids usually have rounded edges.
Because of their higher permeabilities, the formulas for calculating inductance and turns require slight modification. Manufacturers list ferrite AL values in mH per 1000 turnssquared. Thus, to calculate inductance, the formula is

L=ALxN2/1000000

where:

L = the inductance in mH
AL = the inductance index in mH per 1000 turns-squared, and
N = the number of turns.

Example: What is the inductance of a 60-turn inductor on a core with an AL of 523? (See the chapter Component Data and References for more detailed data on the range of available cores.)

L=ALxN2/1000000=523×602/1000000=1.88e6/1e6=1.88mH

Lets follow the example through.

The table above from the chapter Component Data and References states that a 0.5″ core has AL=523 as used in the example above. (The units they use are clumsy, AL should be specified with units, and nH for a 1t winding is very common and equivalent to the values in the table above, I will use nH here.)

The table above gives fuller dimensions of that core.

Lets consult Fair-rite’s data for the core, they are the leading manufacturer of #43 cores and their data has more information which we will come to need.

Above, Fair-rite give AL=440nH against ARRL’s 523nH, so we are already in strife. Further, Fair-rite give the initial permeability (µi) as 800 against the ARRL’s 850… but wait, there is more…

Above, Fair-rite’s curves for #43 material which was used for the example. Permeability is not a simple scalar quantity, it is a complex quantity (ie having real and imaginary parts) and it is frequency dependent.

Examining the chart above, readers will note that the real part (µ’) is approximately constant below about 700kHz, and the imaginary part (µ”) is relatively small at those frequencies and might be ignored, so calculations based on permeability being 800 will only be reasonably accurate below about 700kHz in this case. Since AL is based on the permeability at 10kHz (which is 800), the same applies.

A new example

For avoidance of confusion, let’s abandon the ARRL’s 60t example, and use the same core (though using  AL=440nH) design an inductor with least number of turns that gives Xl>50Ω at 3.6MHz. (We can only put whole turns on a toroid.)

ARRL method

L=Xl/(2*pi*f)=50/(2*pi*3.6e6)=2.21µH,
N=(L/AL)^0.5=(2210/440)^0.5=2.241t.

A minimum of 3t is required and L=N^2*AL=3960nH, Xl=2*pi*f*L=89.6Ω, Z=0+j89.6Ω.

Using a more complete model

Using the calculator above which does take into account the complex frequency dependent value of permeability at 3.6MHz, we find that (ignoring self resonance effects which will be small in this case) the impedance of the inductor is estimated at 25.1+j52.6Ω. The equivalent series inductance is 2330nH.

Summary

The ARRL method overestimated the equivalent series inductance (3990 vs 2330nH), and made no estimate of the equivalent core loss resistance (25.1Ω) (or assumes it is insignificant / zero) which makes this a very low Q inductor (<2) which would not suit some applications.

The discrepancy is greater at higher frequencies, the ARRL method is inadequate for inductors at frequencies where permeability is not equal µi (usually measured at 10kHz).

Manufacturer’s data is usually a more authoritative and more complete source than the ARRL handbook, or most of the rinky dink online calculators.

Nor sure who to believe?

Get an FT50-43 core (they cost cents) and throw 3 turns on it and measure it with your analyser (even low end analysers should suit), noise bridge, whatever you have to measure the impedance of a component at 3.6MHz. Note the significant R component, and X. Be aware that ferrites are not 1% components, if you results are within 20% you have done well.

Validate your design tools, algorithms and data, before depending upon them.

References

  • Silver, H Ward  ed. 2011. The ARRL handbook for radio communications. 2011 ed. Newington: ARRL.