Any tips for winding inductors by hand?

[454Casull]

I want to make some 0.8mH air-core inductors from 24AWG magnet wire. Any tips?

What inner diameter and height should I use?

[daatkins]

I don't think it really matters what the diameter and height are.

You might find the following calculator handy:
http://www.oz.net/~coilgun/mark2/inductorsim.htm

[zlast]

http://www.lalena.com/audio/calculator/inductor/

http://www.dpg.devry.edu/~akim/new/inductor.htm

[DigitalJunkie]

The guys at a local shop here have it down to a science..
Ask them for a couple coils,and they look at a sheet they have,and grab an empty spool,wind on X number of turns,grab the inductance meter,and add/remove a turn or two till it's dead-on. Can have a whole set of coils in 5 minutes! They aren't perfectly wound,kinda 'scramble wound',but since it's quickly done by hand,what do ya expect..They work nicely,and they're quick N cheap.

[AndrewT]

Hi,
coil width and height are very important.

For minimum resistance you need a coil former that is about two to three times the coil width and the coil height should be about the same as it's width.


I cannot get the oz.net sim to work but the other two links work.

[TwoSpoons]

Best tip: don't drop it half way through winding!

[EWorkshop1708]

Originally posted by TwoSpoons
Best tip: don't drop it half way through winding!

Best tip in the whole thread!

Sucks to drop a coil after winding on a lot of turns, then losing count of turns, and/or scratching the enamel off of the coil wire!