Inductance Converter
Convert inductance across Henrys, mH, µH, nH, and pH with the Magnetic Cybernetics Simulator. Features real-time AC Reactance (XL), LC resonance capacitor matching, and magnetic energy storage.
Unit ConvertersBi-Directional Omni-Grid
AC Impedance & Reactance Simulator
Inductors impede high frequencies. Calculate the exact opposition in Ohms provided by this coil at your target frequency.
LC Resonance Matcher
Pair this inductor with the exact capacitance needed to hit your target resonant tank frequency (Thomson Formula).
Magnetic Energy Storage
Inductors store kinetic electromagnetic energy within their core magnetic field when energized by electric current.
Lab Specification Export
Inductance: 47 µH | Frequency: 10 kHz | Reactance: 2.95 Ω | Stored Energy: 94.00 µJ
How to Use the Inductance Converter & Electromagnetic Simulator
A step-by-step engineering guide to converting inductance units, modeling AC reactance, tuning LC tank circuits, and analyzing stored magnetic energy.
Input Inductance in Any Desired Unit
Type into any box in the Omni-Grid (Henrys, mH, µH, nH, pH) or click a preset such as PCB trace (500 pH), SMPS buck inductor (47 µH), or audio crossover (4.7 mH).
Toggle Standard or Scientific Notation
Switch between clean decimal representation for practical shop floor work and scientific notation (e.g., 4.7000e-5 H) for microscopic RF and sub-nanohenry parasitics.
Simulate AC Inductive Reactance (XL)
Enter your circuit's operating frequency (from 50 Hz mains to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi) to calculate the precise opposition in Ohms (XL = 2πfL) and complex impedance (Z = +jXL).
Tune LC Tank Circuits (Thomson Formula)
Specify your desired resonant frequency (e.g., 100 MHz FM) to instantly compute the required tuning capacitance (C) and the tank's characteristic impedance (Z₀).
Calculate Stored Magnetic Energy & Flux Linkage
Input your winding current in Amperes, milliamperes, or microamperes to determine magnetic field energy in Joules (E = ½LI²) and magnetic flux linkage in Webers (Φ = LI).
Export Certified Engineering Specifications
Click 'Copy Filter Spec' to capture the complete electromagnetic profile (inductance, test frequency, reactance, operating current, stored energy) directly to your clipboard.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Expert answers regarding electromagnetic self-induction, SI unit conversions, high-frequency coil reactance, and LC resonance tuning.
Q:What is electrical inductance and how is 1 Henry physically defined?
Inductance (L) is the electrical property of a conductor to oppose any change in current flowing through it by inducing a counter-electromotive force (Lenz's Law). In the International System of Units (SI), one Henry (1 H) is defined as the inductance of an enclosed circuit in which an electromotive force of 1 Volt is induced when current varies uniformly at a rate of 1 Ampere per second (V = -L·dI/dt).
Q:How do Henrys convert across millihenrys, microhenrys, nanohenrys, and picohenrys?
Inductance follows standard decimal metric SI multiples: 1 Henry (H) = 1,000 millihenrys (mH) = 1,000,000 microhenrys (µH) = 1,000,000,000 nanohenrys (nH) = 1,000,000,000,000 picohenrys (pH). For example, a 47 µH power inductor equals 0.047 mH or 47,000 nH. Theoretical units include the CGS electromagnetic abhenry (1 abH = 1 nH = 10⁻⁹ H) and the electrostatic stathenry (1 statH ≈ 8.98755×10¹¹ H).
Q:How does an inductor behave under AC signals compared to DC current?
For steady direct current (DC, f = 0 Hz), an ideal inductor has zero reactance (XL = 0 Ω) and behaves as a short circuit with minimal DC resistance. Under alternating current (AC), the coil generates inductive reactance that increases linearly with frequency: XL = 2πfL (Ohms). In AC circuits, voltage leads current by 90° (+j), allowing inductors to act as low-pass filters that pass DC while choking high frequencies.
Q:How is the resonant frequency of an LC tank circuit determined?
Resonance occurs at the frequency where inductive reactance equals capacitive reactance (XL = XC), causing their reactive impedances to cancel out. According to Thomson's resonance formula: f₀ = 1 / (2π√(LC)). Rearranging for capacitance yields C = 1 / (4π²·f₀²·L). At this frequency, the circuit oscillates naturally, which is fundamental to RF filters, oscillators, and radio tuning.
Q:How much energy is stored inside an inductor's magnetic field?
When a current I flows through an inductor of inductance L, energy is stored in the magnetic field according to the formula: E = ½·L·I² (Joules). Because energy scales quadratically with current, doubling the operating current quadruples the stored magnetic energy. This stored kinetic energy is released back into the circuit when current drops, which is the core operating principle of SMPS boost and buck converters.
Q:What is the difference between air-core, ferrite-core, and laminated iron-core inductors?
The core material determines magnetic permeability (µr) and saturation limits. Air-core inductors (µr = 1) suffer zero core losses or magnetic saturation, making them ideal for high-frequency VHF/UHF RF circuits despite lower inductance per turn. Ferrite cores offer high permeability with low eddy current losses up to tens of megahertz, ideal for SMPS power supplies. Laminated iron cores yield massive inductance for 50/60 Hz power grid line filters, but cannot operate at high frequencies due to heavy eddy current losses.
Inductance Converter Table
| Unit | Henry (H) | mH | μH | nH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Henry (H) | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000,000 | 999,999,999.9999999 |
| 1 mH | 0.001 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1 μH | 0.000001 | 0.001 | 1 | 1,000 |
| 1 nH | 0.000000001 | 0.000001 | 0.001 | 1 |
What is Inductance Converter?
Practical Calculation Example
Inductive Reactance Across Practical Engineering Frequencies
| Inductance Value | Coil Construction | XL @ 1 kHz (Audio) | XL @ 100 kHz (SMPS) | XL @ 100 MHz (VHF RF) | Primary Engineering Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 pH | PCB Microstrip Trace | 3.14 μΩ | 314 μΩ | 0.314 Ω | High-Speed Digital Buses / Parasitics |
| 10 nH | Air-Core Solenoid | 62.8 μΩ | 6.28 mΩ | 6.28 Ω | VHF/UHF RF Tuning, Antenna Matching |
| 47 μH | Ferrite Toroid Core | 0.30 Ω | 29.5 Ω | 29.5 kΩ | Switch-Mode Buck/Boost Power Inductor |
| 4.7 mH | Powdered Iron Core | 29.5 Ω | 2.95 kΩ | 2.95 MΩ | Audio Speaker Crossover (Low-Pass) |
| 1 H | Laminated Silicon Steel | 6.28 kΩ | 628 kΩ | High Attenuation | Power Grid Smoothing Reactor / Choke |