Leaded inductors are components that act as resistors to changes in currents and absorb EMI (electromagnetic interference) which could affect the status of electrical circuits in devices. Leaded inductors are composed of coils wrapped around magnetic cores and store energy in the form of a magnetic field as opposed to an electric field, which is stored by a capacitor. At RS, we have a varied range of leaded inductors, including axial, radial, through-hole and panel-mount inductors, with products from brands such as Bourns, EPCOS, Murata Power Solutions, Panasonic, Wurth Elektronik and our own RS PRO brand.

What are leaded inductors used for?

Leaded inductors are used to suppress asymmetrical interferences in low-voltage and high-voltage circuits. They typically have ferrite cores, however it is possible to find leaded inductors with cores made of other materials, such as nano crystalline or iron. With low or DC voltages, they act as continuous circuits to keep the current flowing if there are interferences but otherwise have no effect on the signal. With high voltage applications, they are able to prevent the current from flowing due to their high resistance, thus are used to protect the circuit from voltage spikes and prevent damages.

Types of leaded inductors

These inductors can found in several different shapes, including radial, axial and through-hole components and leads attached concentrically to the opposite ends of the inductor cores or as linear components. Leaded inductors come in two main categories, VHF-choke and RF-choke:

• VHF (very high frequency) versions are used for line voltage applications to block or filter EMI in small applications or for decoupling in telecom and entertainment electronics.
• RF (radio frequency) versions are used in low-frequency applications of signal and control circuits and are designed to block radio frequencies while allowing audio signals to be transmitted.