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Chokes and Inductors ...
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Benta:
In electronics, "condenser" is no longer relevant in the English language. In others still: most germanic languages use the word "kondensator", slavic as well, it seems.

Interestingly, the term is very common in power production and distribution (we're talking big megawatts here!) as in "rotating condenser" or "synchronous condenser" for power factor correction. But that's a completely different animal :)
T3sl4co1l:


Anyway, regarding the headline, I don't think it's been mentioned that it can be contextual:

A choke is used to "choke off" AC current, i.e., reduce the level to an insignificant amount.  Whereas, an inductor is probably a more intentional value, e.g. used for tuning a filter.

In this sense, a choke is analogous to a coupling capacitor, where its value is simply large enough not to matter for the intended signals.

Both examples (coupling capacitor / RFC) are highpass filters, so do affect the frequency response, but maybe you aren't too concerned about the low-frequency roll-off.

(RFC = radio frequency choke.  Same as any other choke, just... for RF.)

Note that RFCs can have quite low Q as well, e.g. even ferrite beads being suitable sometimes.  Whereas an inductor will normally have a modest to high Q.

Analogously, transformers (when used for transformation ratios) often have a similar characteristic (high enough inductance not to mind, Q irrelevant).  Whereas transformers for energy storage might be better called coupled inductors, and will have modest inductance (significant effect) and modest to high Q.

Analogously, further: electrolytic capacitors occupy that sort of "excessively big enough" and lossy region of characteristics, being used in the same ways.

Tim
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