Hi all,
I'm trying to understand the price disparity between inductors which are available for small switch mode power supplies. Datasheets always recommend specific ones, and they are usually relatively expensive. For example, this coilcraft part
https://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/994-EPL3012-472MLB has the following specs from the datasheet: Shielded, 3x3x1.3mm package, 4.7uH @ 20% tolerance, Isat ~= 1A (at 30% drop), DCRmax = 181mOhm. This part is AU$1.89 in single units (although there are similar parts which are >$3).
However, not much searching turns up lots of parts like this from taiyo yuden (among others):
https://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Taiyo-Yuden/NRH3012T4R7MN which appears to have slightly better specs: Shielded, 3x3x1.2mm package, 4.7uH @ 20% tolerance, Isat ~= 1A (at 30% drop), DCRmax = 130mOhm. Conversely, this part is AU$0.41!
In my experience, both coilcraft and taiyo yuden are both good brands (although I've mostly used taiyo yuden for other non-inductor passives). So why are some parts so much more expensive than others? I've noticed this with many of the commonly recommended brands incl wurth, TDK, coiltronics, etc. Is there some obscure technical reason why this is the case (some kink in frequency response, etc?) or is it just that you are paying for the brand?
Thanks,
Jeremy