I'm experimenting with two coils. I drive them with two MOSFETs and one consumes around 1A and the second ~0.7A (12V power supply able to deliver 15A). While the coils work with permanent magnets and repel and attract them as opposed, I observe no interaction when I bring them close together. I mean not even a hint of movement. Unfortunately I don't have a way to take a picture of these, the first one is around 1 cm diameter and 50 turns and the second around 2cm diameter and 50 turns. Is the power very limited? How should I estimate electromagnet force in Tesla units, and how to measure permanent magnet (small neodymium) magnetic force?
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\$\begingroup\$ What do you drive them with? AC or DC? \$\endgroup\$– winnyAug 6, 2017 at 11:15
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\$\begingroup\$ @winny DC 12V. dd \$\endgroup\$– John AmAug 6, 2017 at 11:23
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There will be some interaction but very small compared to using a permanent magnet and a coil. The magnetic field produced by the coils will be individually weak hence no apparent interaction but the magnetic field strength from a permanent magnet will be massive in comparison and this is enough to produce a noticeable effect.
Have you tried winding the coils around an iron core to increase the flux density? Here's a formula that should give you some general idea about the force from an electromagnet acting on a piece of magnetizable metal: -
Force = \$(N\cdot I)^2\cdot 4\pi 10^{-7}\cdot \dfrac{A}{2g^2}\$
- F = Force
- I = Current
- N = Number of turns
- g = Length of the gap between the solenoid and the magnetizable metal
- A = Area
Detail above taken from here
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\$\begingroup\$ Thanks. Yes, I tried to place an iron bar inside both of them. I still haven't observed even a tiny bit of force between them. Does a permanent magnet create so much greater magnetic force? With the 1A coil I can attract the permanent magnet from 3 cm away. \$\endgroup\$– John AmAug 6, 2017 at 11:13
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3\$\begingroup\$ A permanent magnet will generate a massively greater field than the coils you have mentioned. Electromagnets in relays have thousands of turns. \$\endgroup\$– Andy akaAug 6, 2017 at 11:15
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1\$\begingroup\$ If you (as in the OP) have a relay lying around, take it apart and see how much force it generates compared to your coils... \$\endgroup\$ Aug 6, 2017 at 11:16
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1\$\begingroup\$ How much area? Think again and work in metres not cm. Force can be measured by a spring balance but you need to define your experiment to get meaningful answers. \$\endgroup\$– Andy akaAug 6, 2017 at 11:43
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1\$\begingroup\$ @JohnAm To reason in a practical way about measurements in newtons think of this: the force of 1N is the force that you would perceive as weight if you held a mass of about 100g in your hand. \$\endgroup\$ Aug 6, 2017 at 13:12