# Component Inputs
# Component Input Parameters
This page details all input parameters used across the VIC Matrix Calculator modules. Understanding what each parameter means and how to determine its value is essential for accurate calculations.
## Choke Design Inputs
### Core Parameters
| Parameter | Symbol | Units | Description |
|---|
| Core Type | — | — | Toroid, E-core, rod, bobbin, or air-core |
| Core Material | — | — | Ferrite mix, iron powder, or air |
| Relative Permeability | μᵣ | — | Material permeability (1 for air, 2000+ for ferrite) |
| AL Value | Aₗ | nH/turn² | Inductance factor (from core datasheet) |
| Outer Diameter | OD | mm | Core outer diameter (toroids) |
| Inner Diameter | ID | mm | Core inner diameter (toroids) |
| Height | H | mm | Core height/thickness |
**Finding Core Parameters:**
- Check manufacturer datasheet for Aₗ and μᵣ
- Measure physical dimensions with calipers
- For unknown cores, estimate μᵣ from material type
### Wire Parameters
| Parameter | Symbol | Units | Description |
|---|
| Wire Gauge | AWG | AWG | American Wire Gauge number |
| Wire Material | — | — | Copper, aluminum, silver |
| Number of Turns | N | turns | Total turns wound on core |
| Number of Layers | nlayers | — | Winding layers (affects parasitic C) |
| Winding Style | — | — | Single, bifilar, or multi-filar |
### Bifilar-Specific Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|
| Choke Role | Primary (L1), Secondary (L2), or Bifilar Set |
| Coupling Coefficient | k value between bifilar windings (typically 0.95-0.99) |
| Inter-winding Insulation | Thickness and material of insulation between wires |
## Water Profile Inputs
### Electrode Geometry
| Parameter | Symbol | Units | Description |
|---|
| Electrode Type | — | — | Parallel plates, concentric tubes, tube array |
| Electrode Area | A | cm² | Active electrode surface area |
| Electrode Gap | d | mm | Distance between electrodes |
| Inner Radius | ri | mm | Inner tube radius (cylindrical) |
| Outer Radius | ro | mm | Outer tube radius (cylindrical) |
| Tube Length | L | cm | Submerged tube length |
| Number of Tubes | n | — | Tube pairs in array |
### Water Properties
| Parameter | Symbol | Units | Description |
|---|
| Water Conductivity | σ | µS/cm | Electrical conductivity of water |
| Water Temperature | T | °C | Operating temperature |
| Dielectric Constant | εr | — | Relative permittivity (~80 for water at 20°C) |
**Measuring Conductivity:**
- Use a TDS or conductivity meter
- Distilled water: 1-10 µS/cm
- Tap water: 200-800 µS/cm
- If unknown, 500 µS/cm is a reasonable tap water estimate
## Circuit Profile Inputs
### Component Selection
| Parameter | Description |
|---|
| Primary Choke (L1) | Select from saved choke designs or enter values |
| Secondary Choke (L2) | Select from saved choke designs or enter values |
| Water Profile (WFC) | Select from saved water profiles or enter values |
| Primary Capacitor (C1) | Capacitance value for primary resonance |
| Tuning Capacitor | Optional capacitor in parallel with WFC |
### Operating Parameters
| Parameter | Symbol | Units | Description |
|---|
| Operating Frequency | fop | kHz | Pulse generator frequency |
| Input Voltage | Vin | V | Peak pulse voltage |
| Duty Cycle | D | % | Pulse on-time percentage |
| Source Resistance | Rs | Ω | Driver output impedance |
## Direct Value Entry
If you have measured values for components (rather than designing from scratch), you can enter them directly:
#### For Chokes:
- Inductance (measured at low frequency)
- DC Resistance (measured with ohmmeter)
- Self-Resonant Frequency (if known)
- Capacitance (measured with LCR meter)
- ESR or solution resistance
**Best Practice:** When possible, measure actual component values and compare to calculated values. This helps identify measurement errors and improves your understanding of the calculator's accuracy for your specific components.
*Next: Simulation Tab Explained →*