Magnets have a variety of uses. This includes producing electricity when combined with materials such as the metallic coil of wires, a DC motor, and a battery, to name a few. But how does the procedure work?
The truth is, when you generate electricity from magnets, the magnets are not primarily responsible for electricity production. The kinetic movement of the wire coil and the magnetic field present (as a result of the magnets) results in electricity generation.
This guide is designed to walk you through the materials you will need for this procedure and how it should be done. In addition, you can safely practice this procedure at home or during school experiments.
Materials You Need to Generate Electricity From Magnets
To produce electricity from magnets using copper wire, you need:
- A DC motor
- Flick switch
- Neodymium or donut magnets
- Hot glue gum
- Cardboard or plastic sheet
- Light bulb, and bulb holder
- 9V battery and battery connector
- Resistors
- Electrical wires (copper wire precisely)
- Soldering kit
- Small plastic pulley
- Thick and insulating gloves (optional)
How to Make Electricity From Magnets Using Copper Wire
Putting on a pair of thick and insulating gloves is optional because the chances of electrocution in this procedure are very slim. Nevertheless, it never hurts to be fully insured before starting.
1. Prepare the dynamo coil
Creating a dynamo coil involves wrapping a naked wire around the magnet. In other words, you must first remove the copper wire’s insulation (rubber covering) to access its metal or coil.
It may take a few minutes to have the length of coil turnings you need. Once you are okay with the length, coil it around the neodymium magnet leaving some loose ends. 1,500 turns should be ideal to set up a dynamo coil.
2. Connect the dynamo coil to the light fitting
Now that you have your dynamo coil, it is time to connect it to the terminals of a light fixture or bulb holder. At this point, you need to connect the loose ends from “Step 1” to the terminals of the bulb holder.
You might need to loosen the screws in the terminal for the coil to pass easily. Once the copper coil is in, tighten those screws to hold the wire in place.
3. Prepare a base for the setup
Your base can be made of a cardboard sheet, plastic card, or wood. You can resize any of these materials if they seem too large for the light fixture, DC motor, and battery.
Once the base is ready, drop some hot glue gum on one side of the sheet and place your bulb holder on it to hold it tight. The other side of the base material should also hold the copper coil firmly.
You should also glue the DC motor to the top of the 9V battery, allowing the motor’s rotor to point to a particular end outwardly. Attach a small plastic pulley wheel to the rotor and glue the end of the pulley wheel alongside another donut magnet.
4. Complete the setup
Completing the setup requires adding extra glue to its base and positioning the battery-motor combo opposite the light fixture. You should also ensure that the two magnets are fairly close but not touching each other.
This is to give room for the adequate spinning required to generate electricity. Using your battery connector, solder the motor terminals and wires to one terminal at a time.
At this point, your magnet-powered electrical generator is complete. All you need to do is test it by inserting a bulb in the bulb holder connected to the generator.
With the battery connector linked with the terminals, the generator’s motor should spin (thanks to the magnet) and induce a current in the naked copper wire to light the bulb.
If the bulb does not illuminate, you need to inspect the wiring of the entire setup again. The major culprit, in this case, is usually the battery (when it has low or no charge) or the DC motor. Below is a video that perfectly demonstrates the entire process:
Why are Magnets Not Used to Generate Electricity?
Magnets are not a common source of electricity generation because they cannot produce or store electricity independently. In other words, they are not a source of power; even when they produce, they do so in a minimal quantity.
While a sizeable superconducting magnet can moderately impress, the attractive force on one pole will still cancel out the repulsive force on the other. This is why magnets are not a cost-effective option.
FAQs
How much electricity can magnets generate?
In the absence of load, a permanent magnetic generator should be able to produce between 69.5 to 223.7 volts at a rotational speed of 2,000 to 3,000 rpm.
Can you recharge a magnet?
It is possible to recharge a magnet with a heavy-duty or stronger magnet. This requires linearly rubbing the stronger magnet against the weaker one for about 15 minutes.
Is free energy possible with magnets?
Yes, free energy can be extracted from permanent magnets. This is because the power or electricity from magnets flows from the environment (magnetic field), not the magnets themselves.
In a Nutshell
It is possible to make electricity with magnets at home or in school. The entire process should take just a few minutes if you already have all the necessary materials.
The procedure depends on creating a dynamo coil, attaching it to an energy source (9-volt battery), and a rotor that helps with the movements that generate electricity within the magnetic field.
Hence, it is safe to say magnets only produce electricity when they are in motion. No motion means no electricity generation.
I hope you found this guide helpful. Before using a 9V battery for this procedure, you must ensure they are not damaged. Fortunately, this battery and lithium batteries are similar in terms of symptoms to look out for.
Thank you for reading.