Toroidal inductors and transformers facts for kids

Several small toroidal inductors. The major scale is in inches.		A small toroidal transformer.

Toroidal inductors and transformers are a kind of electronic component. They typically consist of a circular, ring-shaped magnetic centre. The magnet is usually considered a monopole, although the central axis will have a dipole, and have the advantage of being wound continuously in a single direction, thus there is no inductive interference between windings as in a solenoid that is wound back and forth.

Images for kids

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  In the past most transformers were wound on rectangular-shaped cores. The magnetic field tended to escape from the core at the sharp bends.

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  Fig. 3. Toroidal inductor with circumferential current

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  Showing the development of the magnetic vector potential around a symmetric toroidal inductor.

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  Representing the magnetic vector potential (A), magnetic flux (B), and current density (j) fields around a toroidal inductor of circular cross section. Thicker lines indicate field lines of higher average intensity. Circles in cross section of the core represent B flux coming out of the picture. Plus signs on the other cross section of the core represent B flux going into the picture. Div A = 0 has been assumed.

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  In this figure, blue dots indicate where B flux from the primary current comes out of the picture and plus signs indicate where it goes into the picture.