How to Make a Homemade Electric Generator Magnet
Electric-powered magnets, also called electromagnets, attract metals only intermittently. Unlike permanent magnets, electromagnets can be turned on and off. Electromagnets work particularly well in industrial projects that require machines to pick up very heavy metal objects. In part, this is due to the fact that you can create much stronger magnets with electricity because you don't need the strength to separate the metal object from the magnet. You can experiment with these principles on a smaller scale at home by making your own electromagnet.
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Things You'll Need
- Thinly coated copper wire
- Wire nips
- Large iron nail
- D-cell battery
- Electrical tape
- Steel paperclips or tacks
Instructions
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1
Nip an 18-inch piece of copper wire. Place the tip of your nail against the wire about 6 inches from one end. Wrap the center 6 inches of the wire around the nail, keeping your coils tight.
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2
Place one end of your copper wire against the negative terminal on your battery. Secure it in place with a small square of electrical tape.
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3
Place the other end of your copper wire against the positive terminal of your battery. Secure it with electrical tape.
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4
Place some steel tacks or paperclips in a little pile. Hold the battery by the tape-covered terminals and dip the nail down into the metal objects. Bring the nail back up. It should be covered in metal pieces.
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5
Hold the battery in the center and remove one of the tape squares from a terminal on your battery. The metal pieces should drop from the nail. While connected, the electric current changes the molecules in the steel nail and makes them magnetic.
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Tips & Warnings
Never hold the bare wires to the battery terminals.
Always have tape or other insulation between you and the live wires.
Never touch the steel nail while magnetized as this could result in shock or injury.
References
- Photo Credit cylindrical batteries stacked image by 3dpixs.com from Fotolia.com
