inductor
Enable an AI agent to identify an inductor, assess its electrical, magnetic and physical state, and decide whether it can be measured, installed, operated or replaced in a specified circuit.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
6 bundles · 11 layers · 11 findings · 21 questions
Inductor identity and construction Establishes what component is present and how its windings and magnetic path are constructed.
Component identification
Connects the physical component to a supported identity and intended inductive function.
Supported inductor identity
Records the evidence identifying the component as an inductor and any uncertainty about its exact type.
- What markings, manufacturer records or circuit documentation identify this component and its intended inductive function? provenance
- Does its intended role place it within this model or a neighbouring transformer, actuator or interconnect model? boundary
Winding and core arrangement
Describes the electrical connections and magnetic construction relevant to operation.
Verified winding and core description
Records winding count, taps, terminal relationships and documented core, gap and shielding details.
- Which terminals belong to each winding or tap, and what relative polarity is documented where applicable? definition
- What evidence establishes the core material, gap arrangement and magnetic shielding, and which details remain unknown? provenance
Electrical response Captures measured inductive behaviour, winding resistance and frequency-dependent limitations.
Reference electrical properties
Establishes comparable inductance and resistance values.
Conditioned inductance and resistance
Associates electrical values and tolerances with their test conditions and measurement basis.
- What inductance is specified or measured, at what frequency, signal amplitude, DC bias and temperature? measurement
- What DC winding resistance is specified or measured, at what temperature, and how were lead and contact resistance handled? measurement
Frequency-dependent behaviour
Determines how impedance, losses and resonance constrain use.
Usable impedance range
Records impedance behaviour across the frequencies relevant to the proposed circuit.
- What measured or documented impedance and Q curves cover the operating frequency and relevant harmonics? measurement
- Where does self-resonance or other parasitic behaviour prevent this component from meeting the required inductive response? boundary
Magnetic operating envelope Relates current bias and applied waveforms to the available inductance and magnetic limits.
Current bias response
Characterises changes in inductance with current and temperature.
Bias-dependent inductance margin
Records bias curves and the definition behind any stated saturation-current value.
- How does inductance change over the expected current and temperature range? measurement
- What inductance-drop threshold and test conditions define the stated saturation current, if one is provided? definition
Waveform-dependent magnetic stress
Evaluates the proposed excitation against documented magnetic behaviour.
Excitation compatibility
Connects peak current, bias and winding voltage waveform to the minimum inductance required in service.
- What peak current, DC bias, ripple and winding voltage waveform will this inductor experience? measurement
- Do available curves, calculations or representative tests support operation with sufficient inductance throughout that waveform? action
Losses, temperature and integrity Assesses heating, insulation and evidence of winding or core damage.
Thermal performance
Relates electrical losses and heat removal to permissible temperatures.
Thermal operating margin
Records applicable current and temperature limits alongside representative operating evidence.
- What temperature-rise criterion, ambient temperature and mounting conditions define the thermal current rating? definition
- What losses and temperatures are measured or supported for the actual current waveform, frequency and cooling conditions? measurement
Winding, core and insulation condition
Collects evidence of faults and determines what additional examination is justified.
Integrity and fault evidence
Records damage observations and electrical deviations without treating continuity alone as proof of health.
- What inspection or electrical evidence indicates an open winding, shorted turns, insulation breakdown, overheating or core damage? measurement
- Which further tests or operating restrictions are justified by that evidence and the documented insulation and temperature limits? action
Circuit integration and disposition Determines whether this component can be installed, retained or substituted in a particular circuit.
Installation compatibility
Checks electrical, mechanical and magnetic fit at the intended location.
Connection and placement fit
Records footprint, terminal assignment and placement constraints relevant to winding connections and stray magnetic fields.
- Do the footprint, terminal assignment, relative winding polarity where applicable and mounting requirements match the intended installation? action
- What documented or tested spacing, orientation and shielding requirements address coupling to nearby inductors, conductors or magnetic parts? boundary
Service and replacement decision
Turns component evidence and circuit requirements into a justified disposition.
Qualified use or substitution
Records the evidence and remaining uncertainty behind acceptance, derating, replacement or retirement.
- Which circuit requirements must a retained or replacement inductor meet for inductance under bias, losses, resonance, insulation and temperature? boundary
- What evidence supports acceptance, derating, replacement or retirement, and what validation is required before energising the circuit? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of inductor this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.OBJ
- Other names and narrower kinds
- saturable reactor, loading coil, choke, common mode choke
What it is Filled
An inductor is a two-terminal passive electrical component whose defining property is a specified inductance: it stores energy in a magnetic field produced by current in a conductor, typically a coil, so that the induced voltage is proportional to the time derivative of current.
In scope
- Component identity, winding arrangement, core construction and terminal assignment
- Inductance, impedance, losses and parasitic behaviour under stated conditions
- Magnetic bias response, saturation behaviour and current limits
- Thermal performance, insulation integrity and physical condition
- Circuit compatibility, mounting requirements and replacement suitability
Out of scope
- Complete converter, filter, oscillator or other host-circuit design
- Transformers whose primary identity is energy transfer between separate windings
- Motors, solenoids and relays whose primary function is mechanical actuation
- Material formulations and manufacturing processes for magnetic cores
- Incidental inductance of interconnects that are not identified as inductive components
Why it exists Filled
Enable an AI agent to identify an inductor, assess its electrical, magnetic and physical state, and decide whether it can be measured, installed, operated or replaced in a specified circuit.
Distinguishing features Filled
- The component is intentionally used for inductive terminal behaviour; incidental lead or trace inductance alone does not establish its identity.
- Its measured impedance must be evaluated over frequency: inductive behaviour within an intended operating range distinguishes it from a resistor or capacitor, while behaviour outside that range need not remain inductive.
- An intended magnetic energy-storage or inductive impedance function distinguishes it from an actuator whose winding primarily produces mechanical motion.
- For multiple windings, terminal arrangement and intended circuit role must distinguish a coupled inductor or choke from a transformer; winding count alone is insufficient.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Break current through a large inductor without protection against voltage spikes.
- Use inductors beyond rated current or temperature.
- Present counterfeit or mismarked parts as genuine.
Only with a human decision
- Approving inductive components for safety-critical or mains equipment.
May
- Specify and calculate inductors for circuits the agent is designing or checking.
- Read markings and measure inductance with suitable instruments.
Moral aspects Filled
- Stored magnetic energy can cause shocks, sparks and fires.
- Counterfeit parts endanger users of equipment.
Who is affected
- Technicians
- Users of equipment
Owners Filled
Steward
The owner of the equipment; the manufacturer answers for component ratings.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q11653 - registry parent class
- Q178032 - registry parent class
- Q210729 - registry parent class
- Q233003 - registry parent class
- Q2981904 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.inductor
- Wikidata: Q5325 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5325)
Direct properties required Filled
- Construction: Wire-wound, multilayer, thin-film or other documented construction; core type and material if known
- Winding and terminal arrangement: Terminals mapped to windings, taps and documented relative polarity
- Inductance: H, with tolerance, frequency, test amplitude, DC bias and temperature
- DC winding resistance: Ω at a stated temperature
- Impedance and quality factor: Complex impedance in Ω and dimensionless Q versus frequency under stated conditions
- Self-resonant frequency: Hz, with fixture and measurement conditions
- Inductance under current bias: H versus A at stated temperature; saturation-current criterion where specified
- Thermal current rating: A with permitted temperature rise, ambient temperature, waveform and mounting conditions
- Temperature: °C at a specified core, winding or case location, with ambient temperature
- Insulation capability: Documented voltage limits and test conditions between applicable terminals, windings and core
- Condition assessment: Untested, within assessed requirements, degraded, failed or indeterminate; supported by observations
- Host-circuit role: Installed or proposed circuit position and required operating envelope
Recognition required Filled
- Some inductors show a wire coil wound around a cylindrical, bobbin or ring-shaped core.
- Packaged inductors may appear as two-terminal blocks or cylinders whose winding is concealed.
- A circuit board reference beginning with L supports identification as an inductor when the board follows that designation convention.
- Small moulded inductors can resemble resistors, so component markings and circuit documentation are needed for reliable identification.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Identify winding connections and verify the component against markings or documentation.
- Measure inductance, resistance and impedance using conditions appropriate to its intended service.
- Assess proposed current, frequency, voltage and temperature stresses against documented limits.
- Install or reconnect it using verified terminal, footprint and mounting requirements.
- Compare replacement candidates using bias response, losses and limits as well as nominal inductance.
- Isolate, inspect, derate or retire it when evidence indicates damage or operation outside assessed limits.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Excessive current or winding losses can overheat insulation and damage nearby materials.
- Core saturation can reduce effective inductance and expose associated components to excessive current.
- Interruption of current can produce voltage transients that damage insulation or connected electronics.
- Damaged winding insulation can cause short circuits or expose accessible conductive parts to hazardous voltage.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- IEC 60062, issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission, specifies marking codes for resistors and capacitors and includes colour coding for inductors.
Context of use required Filled
- Inductors are used in power converters, filters and radio circuits to store magnetic energy and control changing currents.
- They are encountered as discrete circuit board components, wound magnetic assemblies and coils built into larger equipment.
- Selection depends on operating frequency, current, losses and the magnetic behaviour required by the circuit.
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q5325: inductor - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Inductor - general description of the item
Open questions
- Does the registry intend this entry to include coupled inductors, common-mode chokes, ferrite beads and intentionally inductive PCB structures, or do neighbouring entries own some of them?
- Which existing Vercy world models already cover this concept or parts of its scope and should be reused?
- Which source-backed measurement conventions should govern comparisons when manufacturers use different inductance, saturation-current and thermal-rating conditions?
- What minimum evidence is sufficient to qualify an unmarked or salvaged inductor for a specified use?
- Which construction-specific extensions are needed for RF, high-current power and air-core inductors without burdening every instance?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q5325/spec.json