Drahtkern

Drahtkern is a term used in electrical engineering to describe the magnetic core around which a conductor wire is wound in inductors and transformers. The core provides a low-reluctance path for magnetic flux, increasing the inductance or the energy transfer while shaping the magnetic field. In many descriptions, the winding and the core together form the functional element, with the wire itself carrying the current and the core shaping the magnetic circuit.

Common materials for Drahtkerne are ferrites for high-frequency applications and laminated or powdered iron for lower frequencies and power devices. Shapes vary widely, including toroidal cores, E-cores, U-cores, and pot cores. The choice of material and geometry affects inductance, saturation, core losses, and leakage inductance, and is guided by the intended operating frequency and power level.

Construction and operation: a coil of insulated copper wire is wound around the Drahtkern. The core concentrates the magnetic field, enabling higher inductance with fewer turns and improving efficiency in energy transfer. At high frequencies, ferrite cores reduce eddy current losses, while laminated or powdered iron cores are favored for power transformers and low-frequency inductors due to their magnetic properties and mechanical strength. Core design must also account for saturation limits and thermal considerations.

Applications: Drahtkerne are used in transformers, inductors, chokes, and RF/more power electronics. They appear in power supplies, audio transformers, RF filters, and various control circuits. In German-language texts, the term may be synonymous with the broader concept of a core (Kern) or may be used descriptively to refer to the winding’s magnetic support.