11. Inductor Selection

Question.3

You are designing a buck converter that outputs 5V at 2A, switching at 300 kHz. You have two inductor options — both are 33 µH:

Inductor A: Isat = 3.0 A, Irms = 1.4 A, DCR = 40 mΩ
Inductor B: Isat = 2.4 A, Irms = 2.2 A, DCR = 90 mΩ

Which inductor is more suitable for stable and thermally reliable operation?

shielded inductors with different Isat and Irms ratings

Inductor A — higher saturation current and lower DCR
Inductor B — higher RMS current rating, despite higher DCR
Either — both exceed 2A output, so acceptable
Inductor A — better for transient loads due to higher Isat

Restart quiz!