However, manufacturers like to show off their production process and why it’s superior. Some people like to make their own coils, with very good results. You can wind them by hand or use a machine to wind them automatically.

Depending on your coil core, you can calculate how many windings you need to get the desired inductance.

This is not the purpose of this article, but you can find formulas on the internet. Many DIY-ers choose to make their own inductors. So, when you are checking out some coils, if you want them to be audio grade inductors, check the following : Inductors are also called coils, for obvious reasons. Depending on how many millihenries it has, some high frequencies will pass and others will not. An inductor is measured in mH (millihenries). However, now it rejects the higher frequencies. Compared to a capacitor, an inductor is also a frequency dependant resistor.

Like we said in a previous article about capacitors, the inductor is one of the 3 passive electrical components : resistors, capacitors and inductors. But what makes an inductor suitable for an audio crossover? First of all, let’s try and define the inductor. Isn’t it obvious? You should be using audio grade inductors. So, while I have no idea as to efficiency of using aluminum for the coils of an inductor, I believe that putting aluminum in captive proximity to another fairly strong electromagnetic field would generate a dangerous amount of heat, and probably wouldn't work very well, if at all.Ĭonducting electricity is one thing, accepting a magnetic field is something else.What type of inductor should I use for my crossover? It uses electromagnetic fields to drive an aluminum puck to some pretty fantastic speeds. I believe this is also the foundational operation of the 'Star Wars' program's rail gun. If you push the ring to the bottom and let it go, it flys off the bar (ours hit the ceiling) It was explained that the aluminum is more reluctant (to the electromagnetic field) than the air is (ala path of least resistance). if you force it to the bottom, it heats up.

With the electromagnet energized, an aluminum ring was placed on the bar, encircling it with just enough clearance for the bar to fit inside the opening of the ring. In seventh grade electronics class, we had a demonstration with an electromagnet which had an iron bar standing on it. aluminum is 'reluctant' to electromacnetic fields.

Audio air core inductor calculator