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: ☐ f₀ is within driver frequency range ☐ f₀ is < 30% of SRF (ideally < 10%) ☐ Q is in acceptable range (typically 20-150) ☐ Voltage magnification won't exceed component ratings ☐ Wire gauge handles expected current ☐ Primary and secondary frequencies are matched ☐ No warning indicators are present ☐ 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 →