Automation of High-Frequency Magnetic Core Loss Data Collection

Core loss is often reported using power-law fits on a limited amount of data collected on a single core shape. The development of automated testers which output a full ‘loss map’ is one approach towards improving this reporting. Conventional measurement techniques are automatable but only to 500 kHz-1MHz. In this paper, we develop an automated core loss tester suitable for the > 1MHz regime and discuss its implementation and trade-offs. The tester produces data that is within 12.6%-57% of manufacturer-reported data, following similar trends for flux-density versus power loss density but tending to overestimate core loss. Sources of error in the automation procedure are discussed as well as strategies for future improvement of the system.