# Interpreting Results # Interpreting Calculation Results Understanding what the calculator's output values mean and how to use them for practical circuit construction. This page helps you translate numbers into actionable design decisions. ## Understanding Output Values ### Inductance Results

Output	Typical Range	What It Means
L (inductance)	1-100 mH	Primary choke property, affects f₀ and Q
DCR	0.1-50 Ω	Wire resistance, major Q limiter
SRF	50 kHz - 1 MHz	Maximum usable frequency
C_parasitic	10-500 pF	Stray capacitance, determines SRF
Wire Length	1-50 m	Total wire needed for winding

### Capacitance Results

Output	Typical Range	What It Means
C_wfc	1-100 nF	WFC capacitance, sets resonance with L
R_solution	0.1-100 Ω	Water resistance, affects Q
Z₀ (characteristic)	100-10,000 Ω	√(L/C), impedance at resonance

### Circuit Results

Output	Typical Range	Interpretation
f₀ (resonant freq)	1-100 kHz	Where circuit resonates naturally
Q factor	5-200	Resonance sharpness, voltage gain
Bandwidth	50 Hz - 5 kHz	Usable frequency range around f₀
V_{magnification}	5× - 200×	Voltage gain at resonance
Ring-down τ	0.1-10 ms	Decay time constant
Ring-down cycles	3-150	Oscillations during decay

## What "Good" Values Look Like #### ✓ Well-Designed VIC Circuit:

- Q factor: 30-100 (good balance of gain vs. stability) - f₀: Within your driver's frequency range - Operating frequency: < 30% of SRF (preferably < 10%) - Primary/Secondary f₀ match: Within 5-10% - Bandwidth: Wide enough to accommodate drift - Voltage magnification: As needed for your application

#### ✗ Warning Signs:

- Q < 10: Very low—circuit barely resonates - Q > 300: Extremely sharp—hard to tune, sensitive to drift - f_op > 0.5 × SRF: Operating too close to SRF - DCR > Z₀/10: Resistance dominates, poor Q - Primary/Secondary mismatch > 20%: Poor energy transfer

## Translating Results to Construction ### Wire Length and Turns The calculator provides wire length and turn count. When winding:

- **Add 10-20% to wire length** for lead connections and margins - **Count turns carefully**—L varies as N², so turn count is critical - **Verify L after winding**—actual may differ from calculated

### Component Selection

Calculated Value	Selection Guidance
C1 = 47.3 nF	Use 47 nF standard value (within 1%)
C1 = 31.2 nF	Use 33 nF or parallel 22+10 nF
L = 15.7 mH	Wind for 16 mH, fine-tune with parallel C

## Understanding Accuracy Limits Know what to expect from calculated vs. measured values:

Parameter	Expected Accuracy	Why Variation Occurs
Inductance	±10-20%	Core μᵣ varies, winding geometry imperfect
DCR	±5%	Wire tables accurate, but length varies
SRF	±30%	Parasitic C is hard to model precisely
C_wfc	±15%	Fringe effects, water purity variation
R_solution	±20%	Conductivity varies with temperature
f₀ (calculated)	±15%	Depends on L and C accuracy
Q factor	±25%	Multiple loss mechanisms combine

## Comparing Calculated vs. Measured #### When Measured f₀ is Lower Than Calculated:

- Actual L is higher than calculated - Stray capacitance adding to C_total - WFC capacitance underestimated

#### When Measured f₀ is Higher Than Calculated:

- Actual L is lower than calculated - Core saturation reducing effective L - WFC capacitance overestimated

#### When Measured Q is Lower Than Calculated:

- Additional losses not accounted for (core loss, skin effect) - Poor connections adding resistance - Water conductivity different than assumed

## Using Results for Troubleshooting

Observation	Calculator Check	Likely Issue
No resonance found	Check SRF vs. operating frequency	Operating above SRF
Very weak resonance	Check calculated Q	High losses, low Q
Resonance at wrong frequency	Verify L and C inputs	Input error or mismeasurement
Less voltage gain than expected	Compare Q values	Actual losses higher
Resonance drifts during use	Check temperature effects	Water heating, capacitance changing

## Results Summary Checklist Before building, verify these from your results:

1. ☐ f₀ is within driver frequency range 2. ☐ f₀ is < 30% of SRF (ideally < 10%) 3. ☐ Q is in acceptable range (typically 20-150) 4. ☐ Voltage magnification won't exceed component ratings 5. ☐ Wire gauge handles expected current 6. ☐ Primary and secondary frequencies are matched 7. ☐ No warning indicators are present 8. ☐ Results are saved for reference

**Final Advice:** The calculator gives you an excellent starting point. Always plan to measure your actual circuit and iterate. The goal is to get close enough that minor tuning (adjusting C1, trimming frequency) achieves optimal performance. *Chapter 7 Complete. Next: Advanced Topics →*