Inductive loads use magnetic energy to do work and are found in industrial and heavy equipment. They store energy until it’s needed and convert it with magnetic fields. Inductive loads require protective diodes to prevent circuit overloads and damage. Back EMF causes some energy to be wasted, so inductive loads only use about 70% of electrical energy to do work.
An inductive load is a part of an electrical circuit that uses magnetic energy to do work. Most electrical appliances, motors, and other devices can be classified as inductive or reductive, and this usually has to do with how they absorb and process energy. Inductive loops tend to be large and usually depend on a coil or other routing system to store and channel energy, and as a result most are found in industrial and heavy equipment. Common examples include transformers, electric motors and electromechanical relays. These types of devices basically store energy until it’s needed, and once it’s needed, they convert it with a series of magnetic fields; together this process is known as “induction”. These types of loads often need to be harnessed and guarded to keep the energy flowing in only one direction, as the force of the power supply can cause damage to the connected circuit or switches.
Basic notions on electrical loads
Electricity is measured in individual units depending on production needs, but in most cases the total amount of energy flowing through a system of circuits is referred to as the “load” at the point where the appliance actually draws or uses the power. Loads can be large or small and have different strengths in different applications.
In most cases there are two types of loads, and inductive designs are usually characterized by the use of electromagnetic fields. Electromagnetism in these settings will cause energy to move from the source, such as an outlet or voltage adapter, into the heart of the circuit where it can be used to power whatever the device does.
How inductors work
When a voltage differential is applied to the conductors of an inductor, the inductor converts electricity into an electromagnetic field. When the voltage differential is removed from the leads, the inductor will attempt to maintain the amount of electric current flowing through it. It will discharge when the electromagnetic field collapses or if an electrical path is created between the two conductors of the inductor.
An electric motor is a common example. In these cases, the load is used to convert electricity into physical work. It generally requires more power to initially spin the rotor than it does to keep an already spinning rotor moving, and when voltage is applied to the leads of an electric motor, the motor generates a change in magnetic flux. This change induces an electromotive force that opposes the forward rotational force that would turn the engine; this phenomenon is called back electromotive force (EMF). After a few seconds, an electric motor will have overcome some of the impedance caused by a back EMF and will operate as expected.
Efficiency
Back EMF causes some of the energy from the power source to be wasted. Because of this, an inductive load such as an alternating current (AC) electric motor will only use about 70% of the electrical energy to do the actual work. This means that such loads will require a power supply capable of providing enough electrical power to start the engine. This power supply must also provide enough power for the motor to do physical work as needed.
Importance of diodes
The inductive process is usually subject to what is known as a “wind blow” which means that the energy is not controlled and can cause circuit overloads if not limited. Also, some inductive loads, such as the electromagnet in an electromechanical relay, may feed a surge voltage into the circuit when power is removed from the load, which can damage the circuit. For this reason most devices and machines made in this style also have protective “diodes” which basically act as circuit breakers and require that energy be allowed in, but also prevent it from flowing back.
When the power is turned off, the diode dissipates the overvoltage by providing a unidirectional electrical path through the inductor. It will dissipate electrical energy until the electromagnetic field collapses or until the peak current is insufficient to activate the diode.
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