Transformer and Inductor Design Handbook

by Colonel Wm. T. McLyman

With its practical approach to design, Transformer and Inductor Design Handbook, Fourth Edition distinguishes itself from other books by presenting information and guidance that is shaped primarily by the user’s needs and point of view. Expanded and revised to address recent industry developments, the fourth edition of this classic reference is re-organized and improved, again serving as a constant aid for anyone seeking to apply the state of the art in transformer and inductor design. Carefully considering key factors such as overall system weight, power conversion efficiency, and cost, the author introduces his own new equation for the power handling ability of the core, intended to give engineers faster and tighter design control. The book begins by providing the basic fundamentals of magnetics, followed by an explanation of design using the Kg or Ap techniques. It also covers subjects such as laminations, tape cores, powder cores and ferrites, and iron alloys. In addition, new topics With the goal of making inductors that are lighter and smaller but still meet requirements, this book helps users avoid many antiquated rules of thumb, to achieve a better, more economical design. Presenting transformer design examples with step-by-step directions and numerous tables and graphics for comparison, it remains a trusted guide for the engineers, technicians, and other professionals who design and evaluate transformers and inductors. It also serves as an ideal primer for students, illustrating the field for them from the ground up.

667 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 1978

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th edition:
Lots of interesting stuff.
The dude really needed to label his axes. Completely unprofessional.

Use of old school CGS units are maddening. Please update for the modern SI world.

I still have no idea *why* we need an air gap.
So…it skews the BH curve…so…?
I still have no idea *why* we can’t use supermalloy instead of Ferrite. The numbers appppppear to be better across the board.

His design approach seems completely backwards to my way of thinking. Super weird. Not saying it’s wrong, but it really doesn’t resonate w me at all. (Not that I’ll be designing any magnetics any time soon)

There’s a few circuits here that he claims are very common but my EE Power electronics industry colleagues hadn’t even seen before. Push pull center tapped things.
Quiet converters.

There’s a couple times he mixes up the term “variable” but clearly means “unit”. Pedantic, but confusing and Annoying.

No information on how transformers with dual secondaries should be layered/wound.

Clearly misleading chart in ch4 on wire gauges. He didn’t scale anything or label anything so it appears to be showing exactly opposite of the example.

Interesting stuff on shielding,
Winding with foil instead of wire.
Neat thing where they wrap one core with a large air gap around another core with a smaller air gap to protect against saturation

Upon first pass, I can’t get his software to do anything.
Sigh.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The typesetting is an abomination and some people have strong feelings about CGS units, but there's not much else to complain about. If there could be only one book on inductor and transformer design, this is it.