in a CLC input supply: is it safe to use...

[jarthel]

a 4A choke when the normal current draw is only 3A.

There will be a inrush current limiter (or an NTC thermistor) at the input.

Thank you very much

[theChris]

chokes are resiliant in general. typically there are two effects that limit current:
saturation -- inductance falls off at high current, for ferrites this can be an extreme drop. iron powder just decreases inductance.
heat -- the wire overheats at high currents.

the next question is what the peak and RMS current is? and does the inductor's construction and circuit use make saturation an issue?

from these you can answer if the core saturates and if the wire overheats.

I would estimate that so long as RMS current is less than 4A you will be fine. but this is RMS current, not DC current.

[jarthel]

Originally posted by theChris
chokes are resiliant in general. typically there are two effects that limit current:
saturation -- inductance falls off at high current, for ferrites this can be an extreme drop. iron powder just decreases inductance.
heat -- the wire overheats at high currents.

the next question is what the peak and RMS current is? and does the inductor's construction and circuit use make saturation an issue?

from these you can answer if the core saturates and if the wire overheats.

I would estimate that so long as RMS current is less than 4A you will be fine. but this is RMS current, not DC current.

3A is the DC current passing through the power supply (it's a basic CLCRC filter).

since I will be using an inrush current limiter, I was hoping a 4A (DC rated) would be enough.

Here's a link to the choke: http://www.hammondmfg.com/153.htm (159ZG)