6.8 µH shielded power inductor for automotive and industrial DC-DC
The Murata DFEH7030D-6R8M=P3 is a 6.8 µH shielded power inductor from the DFEH7030D series, built on an iron powder core. It is rated for 3.5 A continuous current with a saturation current floor of 5.2 A, and a maximum DC resistance of 59 mOhm. AEC-Q200 qualification and a -40°C to 155°C operating range place it squarely in automotive and high-temperature industrial power stages — engine bay DC-DC converters, LED headlamp drivers, or infotainment supply rails where the ambient under the hood exceeds 125°C.
Current, saturation, and DCR — the three numbers that decide the fit
The 3.5 A continuous current rating is the thermal limit at 155°C ambient — the inductor's self-heating from the 59 mOhm DCR adds to the ambient, so a design pulling 3 A in a 125°C environment has roughly 15°C of headroom before the core saturates or the winding insulation degrades. The 5.2 A saturation current (Isat) is the hard ceiling where inductance drops by 30% — a buck converter's peak inductor current during a load transient or start-up must stay below this level, or the output ripple spikes and the loop goes unstable. The 20% margin between Isat and the continuous rating is typical for a power inductor sized for moderate ripple. Iron powder core material gives the DFEH7030D a soft saturation characteristic — inductance rolls off gradually rather than collapsing abruptly at Isat, which makes it more forgiving in designs where the peak current is not tightly bounded.
For a BOM that already carries this inductor, sourcing is straightforward through independent distribution — we quote against the RFQ with confirmed availability and current pricing. No official pin-compatible successor has been published by Murata, so a design-in replacement would require requalifying a different series.
The ±20% tolerance is typical for power inductors where the DC bias characteristic dominates the effective inductance more than the initial tolerance.