On Apr 11, 2009, at 5:17 AM, Russell McMahon wrote:

> a hate of inductors

Actually, I have a certain sympathy for solar's antipathy.
Of all the "basic", and even the less basic, electronic components,  
Inductors seem cursed with:

1) hard to find in "local" electronics stores.
2) relatively high cost.
3) behavior differing from "ideal" inductors in many substantial ways:
     A) internal resistance.
     B) core saturation at high current (I guess this is similar to
        a cap's maximum voltage; it wouldn't be awful on its own.)
     C) frequency dependence.

The tendencies of "reference" switching power designs to specify very  
SPECIFIC manufacturers' inductors that meet the design specs is an  
example.  (and a lot of the more complex designs want you to go and  
order a custom wound transformer.)

BillW

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