DIY Electromagnet - The Learning Circuit

Karen covers how moving electrons create magnetic fields, how materials can become magnetized, what materials make good magnets, how electricity can be used to make an electromagnet, and more. Connect with Karen on element14: bit.ly/2LmUm8l

[@andywest5773]

What a cool way to wrap wire! I never would have thought of that.

[@arcanecantrips]

This is a great tutorial! I remember doing something like this when I was a kid, it was super fun. I'm definitely going to save this and have a little craft night with my kids! Thanks.

[@tomasxfranco]

You can actually use a PWM power source if you want to be able to regulate power, for a levitator, for example. And use a ferrite core or E shaped transformer plates for the core and the matching housing for the wire, either would reduce thermal losses in the core and any issues with high frequency switching heating up the core.

[@reasonablebeing5392]

Another awesome project. I noticed a star still sticking to the nail - maybe talk about residual magnetism when you broach the subject again.

[@NiHaoMike64]

A circuit to apply a momentary pulse in reverse on switching off can fix that, at the cost of complexity. But with a DPDT switch, that added circuit can be as simple as a large capacitor and two diodes. (Try to figure out how!)

[@NiHaoMike64]

Would be interesting to use one of those magnetic door locks - they run on either 12V or 24V and use surprisingly little power for the holding force.

[@MrCardeso]

Thanks, Karen!

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

This can also be done onto insulating tubing to create an electromagnetic accelerator which can if you have 5 or six of them you can build a gun that could possibly kill so maybe not such a good idea also two parallel conductors can form a motor which could form part of a RAIL Gun,both of these can be found on the Power labs channel.

[@CliveChamberlain946]

*For 10x strength* use thicker EM wire with a 3.7v 18650 in a battery holder. Old laptops with 18650 cells usually have 1 or 2 bad cells, the rest are good! (but don't recharge any that initially measure under 2v or you could get burned due to shorts from dendrite growth and rupture..). 9v cells are expensive, die fast and can only deliver about 250ma max. 18650 cells short at over 20 amperes!! (a 5 inch spike should have enough wire for 2-3 amps (or 5 to 8 watts before magic smoke escapes..)

[@Rouverius]

Great job, Karen. Merry Christmas to you and the Element 14 Team

[@WallStreet749]

You are one really cool girl. Love what you do.

[@PankajYadav-hr8tp]

Good move.....now I can pick up metal things from the narrow spaces

[@dami4335]

Does it work in 1658? I'm a time traveller with some problems

[@gridarmorfix]

First thing I notice is the D104.

[@NGinuity]

Don't take this the wrong way, but maybe you can use what you've learned about heat resistance to get warmer in that cold lab of yours. Everytime I see you in those fingerless gloves and scarf I immediately think you're Bob Cratchit and Element 14 is Ebeneezer Scrooge. "Is there no magnet wire, are there no volts?"

[@sideburn]

Nail, head, pole, shaft, reamer, hole... that’s what she said.