Help with electromagnets wiring method

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the wiring methods of electromagnets, specifically addressing the orientation of wires in relation to the magnetic poles in bar and horseshoe configurations. Participants explore concepts related to current flow, coil direction, and magnetic field generation, with a focus on both theoretical and practical aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the positioning of incoming and outgoing wires on an electromagnet is arbitrary, as long as the coil is continuous and each loop turns consistently around the core.
  • Others question whether the discussion pertains to actual wires in coils or the representation of magnetic lines in diagrams, indicating a need for clarification on terminology.
  • One participant notes that the direction of current flow establishes opposite poles on either side of the coil, while the winding direction does not affect pole designation.
  • Another participant emphasizes that switching the source current can determine pole designation using a permanent magnet, suggesting practical methods for testing electromagnet behavior.
  • Concerns are raised about the claim that current flow in one direction makes one side of a magnet stronger than the other, with a participant expressing skepticism about this assertion.
  • There is mention of a specific configuration involving a three-pole magnet in a speaker, prompting questions about how current affects the strength of the magnetic field in such setups.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the effects of coil winding direction and current flow on magnetic pole designation. Some viewpoints are contested, and no consensus is reached on certain claims, particularly regarding the relationship between current direction and magnetic strength.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on assumptions about the definitions of terms like "pole designation" and "current flow," which may not be universally understood. Additionally, the discussion includes personal experiences and informal observations that may not align with formal educational perspectives.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring electromagnet design, those curious about the principles of magnetism, and hobbyists experimenting with electrical circuits and magnetic fields.

Taylor_1989
Messages
400
Reaction score
14
I am curious to know, why on a electromagnet that the wire coming in is on the opposite side to the wire leaving?

Is it due to the way the current comes in and leaves, as in the anticlockwise field in the north so incoming and the outgoing is clockwise south.

When I say a electromagnet I mean a bar and horseshoe.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Where the wire joins and leaves the coil is arbitrary, as long as as you have one continual coil (no cut anywhere breaking the circuit) and each coil loop turns the same way around the core. The current that adds the most to the magnetic field is the current through each loop in the coil, not the current through the wires that connect the coil to the battery.
 
Are you referring to actual wires in the coils of electromagnets, or the lines in pictures of magnets that go from one end and loop to the other? I'm only asking because you said "When I say a electromagnet I mean a bar and horseshoe."
 
Here in attachment is a drawing of a basic horseshoe electromagnet showing a single coil of N turns carrying I amps, and the equation for calculating the magnetic field B Tesla in the air gap.
 

Attachments

  • Magnet_air_gap.jpg
    Magnet_air_gap.jpg
    47.2 KB · Views: 484
Drakkith said:
Are you referring to actual wires in the coils of electromagnets, or the lines in pictures of magnets that go from one end and loop to the other? I'm only asking because you said "When I say a electromagnet I mean a bar and horseshoe."

The actual wires, I know it is a strange question, but I was reading one of my physics books and it pointed out how the wires were wired different on both sides of the magnet; but never gave an explanation as of why. The picture in the book was a horse shoe/ U magnet. The only thing I could see why was that the magnetic field coming in was opposite on either side so making one side north the other south.
 
Doesn't matter. So long as the wire keeps going around the core in consistent direction, be it consistently clockwise or consistently counter-clockwise, where the coil starts and ends doesn't matter. Each loop will have the same contribution regardless of pitch.
 
This is what I've found, without formal education, just tickering around. The direction of the coil wind has no bearing on pole designation. But the direction of current flow does set up opposite poles on either side of the coil. Switching the source current, meaning physicaly switching "+" to "-" and or vise versa, you will then be able to determine pole designation with a permanet magnet and see if the magnet sticks or is repelled away/flipped over. I have used this method many times, with consistent results. You will still need to know which side of your permanet magnet is N and S.
 
This is what I've found, without formal education, just tickering around. The direction of the coil wind has no bearing on pole designation. But the direction of current flow does set up opposite poles on either side of the coil. Switching the source current, meaning physicaly switching "+" to "-" and or vise versa, you will then be able to determine pole designation with a permanet magnet and see if the magnet sticks or is repelled away/flipped over. I have used this method many times, with great sucsess. You will still need to know which side of you permanet magnet is N and S.
 
K^2 said:
Doesn't matter. So long as the wire keeps going around the core in consistent direction, be it consistently clockwise or consistently counter-clockwise, where the coil starts and ends doesn't matter. Each loop will have the same contribution regardless of pitch.

Robin07 said:
This is what I've found, without formal education, just tickering around. The direction of the coil wind has no bearing on pole designation. But the direction of current flow does set up opposite poles on either side of the coil. Switching the source current, meaning physicaly switching "+" to "-" and or vise versa, you will then be able to determine pole designation with a permanet magnet and see if the magnet sticks or is repelled away/flipped over. I have used this method many times, with consistent results. You will still need to know which side of your permanet magnet is N and S.

Thanks for the feed back, well appreciated for clearing that up for me.

Another question on the same topic. When you look at a 3 pole magnet for example one in a speaker and there is a south pole in the middle and two north either side when the coil is wrapped around that, they are in opposite direction to each other, in my book it say: this is because when current flows in one direction it make one side stronger than the other. How dose this work?

Is it the same when you put two conductors together and the current flows the same way in both, the repel each other, well something along them line, just a guess.
 
  • #10
Oh just to say thanks, to everyone else who came back to me well appreciated.
 
  • #11
Can you show us the coil configuration that you refer to ? Is it one winding that loops into three, what I call ring coils. much like a figure 8 with another loop attached? Without seeing it it's hard to say. How is it that you determined the pole orientation? And are their permanent magnets being used for the core to each coil?

I would have to disagree with, as you mentioned "this is because when current flows in one direction it make one side stronger than the other." That doesn't sound right to me. Like I mentioned previous I have no formal education in this. I'm just speculating from what I've picked up along the way...

cheers
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
10K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
7K