Free Inductor Core Saturation Current Calculator

Calculate peak saturation current (Isat), core magnetic flux density (Bmax in Tesla), and required air gap to prevent magnetic core saturation.

🧲 Magnetic Core Parameters

Magnetic Core Material & Bsat

Number of Turns (N) Winding wire turns

Core Cross-Section Ae (mm²) Effective magnetic area

Magnetic Path Length le (mm) Magnetic mean length

Air Gap Length lg (mm) 0 for ungapped toroid

Target Current I (A) Peak operating current

Relative Permeability (μr) Initial core permeability

📊 Saturation Limits & Flux

Max Saturation Current (Isat) 0.00 A 0 A·turns limit

Flux Density @ Target (Bpk) 0.000 T 0 Gauss

Estimated Inductance (L) 0.0 μH AL ≈ 0 nH/N²

Stored Magnetic Energy 0.0 mJ ½ L × I²

Saturation Safety Margin: Safe Operating Range

Formula Check: B = μ0 × N × I / (lg + le/μr)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard definition of Isat?

In manufacturer datasheets, Isat is typically defined as the DC bias current at which the inductance drops by either 20% or 30% from its initial zero-current value.

What happens in a DC-DC converter when an inductor saturates?

When an inductor saturates, its current ramps up with explosive exponential slope instead of a linear ramp. This trips power supply overcurrent protection, overheats the switching MOSFETs, and can cause instant silicon destruction.

How does temperature affect Bsat in ferrite cores?

Ferrite materials experience a severe thermal negative temperature coefficient. A ferrite core with Bsat = 0.40 T at 25°C drops to ~0.30 T at 100°C. Always design with at least a 25% to 30% saturation margin.

How do you convert Tesla to Gauss?

1 Tesla equals exactly 10,000 Gauss. For example, 0.38 Tesla equals 3,800 Gauss.