This section provides an overview for flyback transformers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 8 flyback transformer manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked flyback transformer companies as of November, 2024: 1.Promark Electronics, Inc, 2.Magnetic Circuit Elements Inc., 3.West Coast Magnetics.
Table of Contents
A flyback transformer is a transformer used in a flyback converter.
It is one of the circuit methods used in isolated switching power supplies such as isolated DC-DC converters and AC-DC converters, and other types include the forward method, LLC resonance method, and push-pull method.
In the flyback method, energy is repeatedly accumulated and released into the transformer during power conversion. Therefore, unlike other types of transformers, flyback transformers must have the characteristics to store large amounts of energy.
Flyback transformers are used in switching power supply circuits used in a variety of consumer and industrial applications. The power that can be handled by this power supply is only a few tens of watts, making it suitable for relatively low-power applications compared to isolated switching power supplies of other methods.
On the other hand, it features a wide input voltage range. It has the advantage of simple power supply circuit configuration, fewer components, and lower cost. However, the peak current is higher, so care must be taken with specifications when selecting switching elements, rectifier diodes, and other components.
Also, the ripple current is higher than in other methods, so the smoothing capacitor capacity must be larger.
Flyback transformers are based on the principle of charging when current flows through the primary side of the transformer and discharging through the secondary side of the transformer after the current is interrupted. Due to the principle of operation, it is very important for the transformer to accumulate electromagnetic energy in terms of its characteristics.
A switching element (power transistor, power MOSFET, etc.) is connected to the primary side of the flyback transformer, and a smoothing capacitor is connected to the secondary side through a rectifying diode. The polarity of the windings is reversed so that when an excitation current is applied to the primary side of the transformer, a voltage is generated in the direction that the rectifier diode on the secondary side turns off.
When the switching element is turned on, the excitation current flows in the primary side of the transformer and electromagnetic energy is stored in the transformer. When the switching element is turned off in this state, the excitation current on the primary side is interrupted, the direction of the voltage on the secondary side is reversed, and the electromagnetic energy stored in the transformer is released through the rectifier diode. This is smoothed by a capacitor to output a DC voltage.
The flyback transformer must store a large amount of electromagnetic energy. Transformers intended for energy transmission, like other methods, use core materials with high magnetic permeability to increase the coupling coefficient. However, such materials usually cannot store large amounts of electromagnetic energy. Therefore, in flyback transformers, an air gap is created in a part of the core where the magnetic permeability is low, and energy is stored in this gap.
Flyback power supplies require a relatively large transformer because electromagnetic energy must be stored in the transformer. A minute gap is created in part of the core to lower the magnetic permeability and store electromagnetic energy. On the other hand, forward power supplies do not require such a minute gap because the transformer does not need to accumulate electromagnetic energy, and the transformer can be made smaller.
In addition, flyback power supplies do not require isolation separation of the primary and secondary feedback circuits, making the circuit configuration very simple, whereas forward power supplies require isolation and a voltage feedback circuit from the output.
Flyback transformers are widely used in AC-DC switching power supplies due to their configuration. However, the semiconductor devices for switching and the transformer are the two areas of high loss in AC-DC switching power supplies. During high-speed switching operations, rapid magnetic flux changes occur in the transformer, and if an iron core is used for the transformer core, heat is generated due to eddy current losses, rendering the transformer unusable.
For this reason, flyback transformers for high-frequency AC-DC switching power supplies often use ferrite as their core material. Since the characteristics of ferrite are frequency and temperature dependent, it is important to select a flyback transformer with a core made of ferrite material suitable for the desired operating speed.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Promark Electronics, Inc established in Victor, New York in 1987 is a manufacturer of wire harnesses and cable and electromechanical assemblies used in commercial electric vehicles. Their product portfolio includes printed circuit boards, power supplies, magnetics, fabricated sheet metal, and aluminum extrusions that are used in industries such as medical, telecommunication, military, and automotive. The company has ISO certified manufacturing facilities, a customer support center, and a product development center.
Tried Magnetics was founded in the 1940s and is based in Perris, California. The ISO 9001:2015-certified company serves industrial equipment, renewable energy, medical equipment, and other industries as a manufacturer of components using standard and custom magnetic components including transformers, power supplies, and inductors. The company’s custom magnetics division encompasses power and audio transformers, chokes, and power supplies used across industries. The company’s engineering development kits and design sample kits include a sampling of power ranges, sizes, and packaging styles within specific product lines to assist customers in choosing final designs for prototyping.
Coilcraft was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Cary, Illinois. The company is a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of high-performance magnetic components for industries including automotive and computing. The company’s standard products include power devices such as inductors, RF devices, transformers, and EMI components. The company’s automotive division offers transformers, inductors, chokes, and filters operation down to -40 degrees. The company also offers design tools to help customers understand the correct product for their needs and optimum system operational parameters.
PREMO Group is a magnetics manufacturer founded in 1962 and based in Malaga, Spain. The company develops, manufactures, and sells electronic components. The company operates 3 manufacturing plants in Wuhu City (China), Tanger (Morocco), and Quang Nam (Vietnam). Also, PREMO operates research and development centers in France, Germany, Korea, Spain, USA, and China. The main focus of the PREMO Group are products used in IoT, M2M, VR, Connected and Electric Vehicles. Their product list comprises of RFID antennas, Motion Tracking Sensors, and power transformers. PREMO also manufactures inductors & chokes, current sensors, EMC filters, and PLC components.
S.G. Smallwood Inc. (SGS) is a Canadian contract manufacturer specializing in custom transformers and related assemblies that was established in Kitchener, Ontario in 1945. The company offers a range of specialized capabilities, including design, engineering, precision linear winding, precision toroidal winding and layer winding services. These are utilized to produce transformers, windings, inductors, and assemblies according to customer specifications. SGS mainly serves clients in the power supply, consumer electronics, audio equipment, and telecommunications sectors.
Electronic Craftsmen is a Canadian custom manufacturer specializing in inductors and transformers that was originally founded in 1956 as E Craftsmen Corporation. From their 23,000 sq ft facility in Waterloo, Ontario, the company produces various custom magnetics including power, toroidal, and flyback transformers, common and differential mode chokes, and filter inductors. These are used by clients in the renewable energy, aviation, and industrial manufacturing sectors. Electronic Craftsmen has an onsite machine shop from which it provides additional services for customer projects, such as engineering, encapsulation, prototyping, and testing.
West Coast Magnetics, headquartered in Stockton, California, is a manufacturer of transformers and inductors and was founded in 1974. They produce electronic components including filters, coils, transformers, inductors, and also chokes, which are available in various frequency, power, and voltage ratings, suitable for wireless charging, power filtering, buck-boost, and high ripple applications. West Coast Magnetics is ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified, ITAR registered, and also complies with RoHS regulations.
Magnetic Circuit Elements Inc., established in 1984, is a manufacturer and designer of standard transformers, inductors, chokes, and custom parts such as sin-wave inverters, self-supporting coils, and packaging used in electronics, appliances, technology, military, and manufacturing sectors. The company is one mile off Highway 101, the California North-South freeway, and uses technology methods to meet the CSA and UL safety specifications with standard materials. The company is a receiver of Manufacturer of the Year and other quality awards from defense prime contractors.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Promark Electronics, Inc |
20.3%
|
2 | Magnetic Circuit Elements Inc. |
13.7%
|
3 | S.G. Smallwood Inc. |
13.2%
|
4 | West Coast Magnetics |
12.6%
|
5 | PREMO S.L. |
12.6%
|
6 | Triad Magnetics |
11.0%
|
7 | Electronic Craftsmen |
9.3%
|
8 | Coilcraft Inc. |
7.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the flyback transformer page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 3 | 50.0% |
Canada | 2 | 33.3% |
Spain | 1 | 16.7% |