Build a Magnet Generator with 42 Gauge Wire

[Kbement]

Hey everybody,

So I've decided to try and make a copper wire magnet generator (real small) for part of my senior design project. If I can get this to work I can potentially reduce my fixture significantly. Anyways, I purchased some real small wind turbine generators off the shelf to play with and see if I can recreate them using some 42 gauge magnet wire. The generator I purchased has no problem lighting up 3 LEDS and can actually output about 4 VAC if I just hook it straight up to the multi meter. I took the winding's off of the one I bought and tried winding my own just as a learning process for better understanding. Once I got a decent way through, probably 1000 windings, I tried to readout a voltage but according to my multi meter I've got nothing. Just wondering if anyone had any advice on what to try. Here's a few of my concerns;

Does the wire have to be continuous? (42 gauge easily breaks. Broke two times during winding)
Is 42 gauge just too small?

I'm using the off the shelf housing and magnet so the only variable other than that has to be the wire. Appreciate the feedback.

Thanks,

 

[berkeman]

Hey everybody,

So I've decided to try and make a copper wire magnet generator (real small) for part of my senior design project. If I can get this to work I can potentially reduce my fixture significantly. Anyways, I purchased some real small wind turbine generators off the shelf to play with and see if I can recreate them using some 42 gauge magnet wire. The generator I purchased has no problem lighting up 3 LEDS and can actually output about 4 VAC if I just hook it straight up to the multi meter. I took the winding's off of the one I bought and tried winding my own just as a learning process for better understanding. Once I got a decent way through, probably 1000 windings, I tried to readout a voltage but according to my multi meter I've got nothing. Just wondering if anyone had any advice on what to try. Here's a few of my concerns;

Does the wire have to be continuous? (42 gauge easily breaks. Broke two times during winding)
Is 42 gauge just too small?

I'm using the off the shelf housing and magnet so the only variable other than that has to be the wire. Appreciate the feedback.

Thanks,

Yeah, 42AWG is very small and fragile. I've used it in some comm transformer designs in the past, and it is very problematic.

What was the gauge of the wire you unwound? Can you post some pictures? 1000 turns sounds kind of high for a small power generator...

 

[Kbement]

Yeah, 42AWG is very small and fragile. I've used it in some comm transformer designs in the past, and it is very problematic.

What was the gauge of the wire you unwound? Can you post some pictures? 1000 turns sounds kind of high for a small power generator...

Thanks for the reply.

Here's a photo of the bought generator. The wire here is real thin as well. This photo is from online. The one I have seems to have even thinner wire but does well for the power output I need.

 

[jim hardy]

Does the wire have to be continuous? (42 gauge easily breaks. Broke two times during winding)

A splice is okay so long as the fat spot it makes doesn't abrade your insulation and create a shorted turn, or worse a short between two layers of turns.

Is 42 gauge just too small?

Only for the reason you stated, it's too delicate to work with.

Of course you wound all the turns in same direction? No reversals at a repair?

old jim

 

[tech99]

Of course you wound all the turns in same direction? No reversals at a repair?

old jim

And you scrapped the enamel off?

 

[rbelli1]

Does the wire have to be continuous?

Electrically yes. Did you electrically connect the broken ends together?

BoB