Inductance Converter
Convert inductance units — henries, millihenries, microhenries, nanohenries, and more. Free online inductance converter for electronics, RF engineering, and coil and transformer design.
Understanding Inductance
Inductance measures a conductor's ability to store energy in a magnetic field. You express inductance in henries (H), named after physicist Joseph Henry. One henry produces one volt of induced EMF when current changes at one ampere per second.
Inductors consist of wire coils, often wound around a magnetic core. The number of turns, core material, and coil geometry determine inductance value.
Inductance Formulas
V = L × di/dt
Induced voltage equals inductance times rate of current change. This defines inductance in terms of opposing voltage.
E = ½ × L × I²
Energy storage: Energy equals one-half times inductance times current squared.
XL = 2 × π × f × L
Inductive reactance equals 2π times frequency times inductance. Reactance increases with frequency.
Example: A 10 millihenry inductor carrying 2 amperes stores E = 0.5 × 0.01 H × 2² A² = 0.02 joules.
Common Inductance Conversions
| Henries (H) | Millihenries (mH) | Microhenries (μH) | Nanohenries (nH) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × 10⁻⁹ | 1 × 10⁻⁶ | 0.001 | 1 |
| 1 × 10⁻⁶ | 0.001 | 1 | 1,000 |
| 0.001 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1 | 1,000 | 1,000,000 | 1 × 10⁹ |
Inductor Types and Applications
Air Core Inductors
Provide 10 nH to 100 μH. No core losses make them ideal for RF applications. Used in antenna matching networks and high-frequency filters.
Ferrite Core Inductors
Range from 1 μH to 100 mH. High permeability increases inductance. Common in switch-mode power supplies and EMI filtering.
Iron Core Inductors
Provide 1 mH to several henries. Used in audio applications and power line filtering. Laminated cores reduce eddy current losses.
Toroidal Inductors
Doughnut-shaped cores confine magnetic flux. Low electromagnetic interference suits them for sensitive circuits. Available in various core materials.
RL Circuit Time Constant
τ = L / R
Time constant equals inductance divided by resistance. After one time constant, current reaches 63.2 percent of final value.
Example: A 100 mH inductor with 50 Ω series resistance produces τ = 0.1 H / 50 Ω = 0.002 seconds or 2 milliseconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does an inductor differ from a capacitor?
Inductors store energy in magnetic fields. Capacitors store energy in electric fields. Inductors oppose current changes. Capacitors oppose voltage changes.
Why do inductors have core materials?
Magnetic cores increase permeability, boosting inductance for a given number of turns. Core material selection affects frequency response and power handling.
What is inductive reactance?
Inductive reactance represents opposition to AC current flow. Reactance increases proportionally with frequency. DC sees zero reactance from an ideal inductor.
How do you measure inductance?
Use an LCR meter or inductance meter. Some multimeters include inductance measurement. Apply known frequency AC and measure impedance for manual calculation.
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