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Measuring coils [message #37663] Tue, 06 August 2002 01:33 Go to next message
Pilkar is currently offline  Pilkar
Messages: 19
Registered: May 2009
Chancellor
hello everybody!

is there a way i can measure a coil without a LCR meter? because i`m making the coils for the xovers myself, and well, i wish to know if they are on the right value...

thank you all!!

Matias

Re: Measuring coils [message #37668 is a reply to message #37663] Tue, 06 August 2002 14:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently online  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18738
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
You can measure a coil using a signal generator and oscilloscope. You'll also need a resistor of known value, and you'll basically use it to form a voltage divider with the coil. What you'll do is to choose a frequency that makes the inductor's reactance equal to that of a resistor you've chosen. Then, using the formula for inductive reactance, you'll be able to easily find the value of your coil.

Inductive reactance is found with the following formula:

Xl = 2πFL

Since you want Xl to be equal to your resistor value, you'll pick frequency F that will result in this being the case. Your coil's inductance is represented by "L" in this formula, and is shown in Henries.

At this frequency, the circuit doesn't form a 50% / 50% voltage divider as it would with two resistors, even if inductive reactance is equal to resistance. If you put 10v p-p across two equal-value resistors connected in series, then you would have 5v p-p across each one. But if you put a coil having "X" ohms of inductive reactance in series with a resistor having the exact same impedance of "X" ohms, each will have 70.7% of the voltage across them. This paradoxical-seeming property isn't really mysterious at all, it's simply because the voltage is developing across each part at different times. Inductive reactance is 90o out-of-phase with reactance.

So set the frequency where the voltage division between the resistor and the inductor is equal, at 70.7% of the total applied voltage. At this point, inductive reactance of the coil is equal to your resistor, and so inductance can be accurately predicted by rearranging the inductive reactance formula:

L = Xl / 2πF

Re: Measuring coils [message #37673 is a reply to message #37663] Tue, 06 August 2002 18:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bmar is currently offline  bmar
Messages: 346
Registered: May 2009
Grand Master
This is an inexpensive meter with LCR capabilities. It will not be as accurate as the method Wayne suggest, If you dont have a scope or a good bridge, I think this is affordable and works great for checking crossover coils. its 89 bucks.

Bill

Re: Measuring coils [message #37679 is a reply to message #37663] Wed, 07 August 2002 02:39 Go to previous message
Pilkar is currently offline  Pilkar
Messages: 19
Registered: May 2009
Chancellor
thank you very much guys!
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