Inductors in Parallel Calculator
Equivalent parallel inductance, branch currents and reactance.
What it does
Inductors in parallel combine like resistors in parallel, giving less inductance than the smallest one. The current divides inversely to inductance.
Where it's used
Sharing current between inductors, for example in multi-phase converters.
How to use it
- Type the values separated by commas.
- Enter the total current to see how it divides.
- Set a frequency for the reactance.
The formula explained
- 1/L_total
- 1/L1 + 1/L2 + … (no coupling)
- I_n
- I × L_total / L_n — current in branch n
Worked example
Two equal 10 µH inductors sharing 4 A.
Inputs:
- Inductor values (comma separated): 10u, 10u H
- Current: 4 A
- Frequency (reactance): 500k Hz
The calculator gives:
- Total inductance: 5 µH
- Stored energy: 40 µJ
- I through L1: 2 A
Tips and common mistakes
- The smaller inductor carries more current.
- Current only shares evenly if the inductors and their DC resistances match.
- The formula assumes the inductors are not magnetically coupled.
Questions people ask
Is there a quick formula for two inductors?
Yes, the same as resistors in parallel: L = L1 × L2 / (L1 + L2). Two equal inductors give half the value, so two 10 µH parts make 5 µH.
Why put inductors in parallel?
Mainly to carry more current and lower the total DC resistance in power circuits. It only works well when the inductors are identical, otherwise one of them takes most of the current and saturates first.
How much energy is stored?
E = ½ × L × I². The example’s 5 µH carrying 4 A stores ½ × 5 µH × 16 = 40 µJ — the energy a switching converter moves in each cycle.
Related Reactive & RLC calculators
- Capacitors in Series
- Capacitors in Parallel
- Inductors in Series
- RLC Resonant Frequency
- RLC Parallel Resonance
- RC Time Constant
- Capacitor Reactance
Enter your values to get the result with the formula, substituted values and an explanation of each step.