Where Can I Find a Simple Hall Probe for Measuring Magnetic Fields?

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The discussion revolves around the search for a simple Hall probe suitable for measuring magnetic fields up to 2 tesla, particularly for educational purposes in the UK. The original poster expresses frustration over the lack of affordable options, noting that many available probes exceed $100. Suggestions include contacting schools for model information, exploring online resources like gaussmeter.co.uk and TeachSpin, and considering building a Hall probe from a low-cost chipset. The conversation also touches on nostalgia for past lab experiences, with participants sharing humorous anecdotes about their struggles and challenges in experimental physics labs. Overall, the thread highlights the difficulty in finding budget-friendly scientific equipment while fostering a sense of camaraderie among those who have faced similar lab frustrations.
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Hey,
Sorry this is probably in the wrong section but I couldn't think of a more appropriate one. Anyway, I've spent ages on the net looking for a really simple hall probe - like one which I used back in school measuring a max of upto 1.5 - 2 tesla, and I just cannot seem to find any school lab type supplies websites! Really frustrating! Any ideas? I'm in the UK. Any help much appreciated!
 
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Has one tried searching for magnetometer, gaussmeter, teslameter?

I presume one wishes to measure magnetic field as opposed to current?
 
Yes, that is correct. I may be addressed outisde the third person too. :)

I've tried your suggestions and they brought some up, but they all seems really expensive (>$100) ! Back in school I had a really simple hall probe which you could hook up to USB and mess around with. Good times. Sigh.
 
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Why not call someone at the school and obtain the model or manufacturer or perhaps even the purchase order?

This might be useful - http://www.gaussmeter.co.uk/hall-probes.html

http://www.gaussmeter.co.uk/online-quotation.html
If one wants just a probe.

I think the full system with probe and electronics/processor will be pricey.

Or make a Hall probe and meter :biggrin:
http://spallation.physics.sc.edu/~blanpied/phys308/hallE67.pdf
 
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Dr Transport said:
www.teachspin.com has hall probes for advanced labs
Great resource, DT!

http://www.teachspin.com/instruments/prices.shtml#hall - a bit pricey.
 
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For $25, you can buy a calibrated, linear hall sensor from Allegro Microsystems. These are the cheapest sensors I've come across. They are basically a single chip package that you can easily mount on a board. You with need a 5V power supply (or a DC voltage source) and a meter/display to read the output.

Example: http://www.allegromicro.com/en/Products/Part_Numbers/1321/
Price: http://www21.serrahost.com/AllegroMicroSystems/Detail.bok?no=248

Scroll down to near the bottom of this pricing list: http://www21.serrahost.com/AllegroMicroSystems/StoreFront.bok#distributor
 
Thanks, all very helpful. I think I'll just postpone my plans for a few months and go back into use the school one for abit when I can. All of the ready made ones seem over $150, apart from the chipset. Might resort to the chipset and just hook it up to my multimeter.

Btw I got a quotation from gaussmeters.co.uk and it was well over £100.
 
Astronuc said:
Great resource, DT!

http://www.teachspin.com/instruments/prices.shtml#hall - a bit pricey.

Pricey, but the owner was my experimental physics profeesor way back when before all of these new fangled computer driven labs. You know, when you set the temperature on the blackbody for your infrared spectroscopy lab and come back 2 days later when it has stabilized, then you take data all night until the system craps out.

By the way, he is working an initiative for advanced labs, I plan on donating, anyone else?
 
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Dr Transport said:
You know, when you set the temperature on the blackbody for your infrared spectroscopy lab and come back 2 days later when it has stabilized, then you take data all night until the system craps out.

You've given me an anxiety attack reminding me of that freakin' thermopile!

(Thermo-pile-of-$#*%! On my deathbed, I'm going to demand that month BACK!)
 
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  • #11
Chi Meson said:
You've given me an anxiety attack reminding me of that freakin' thermopile!

(Thermo-pile-of-$#*%! On my deathbed, I'm going to demand that month BACK!)


Me too, the best thing about my lab time was that I had a girl-friend who would come over to the lab, do her homework and genrally keep me company all night while I was taking data and pouring over it to analyze it.
 
  • #12
Dr Transport said:
Me too, the best thing about my lab time was that I had a girl-friend who would come over to the lab, do her homework and genrally keep me company all night while I was taking data and pouring over it to analyze it.

Oh that makes me feel so much better! :ironic smiley:

Not only did you have a girlfriend, you had DATA! A month of lugging liquid N2 up to the observatory--no TA's to be found anywhere--lousy instruction manual--plus nobody else in the class had the same project since we all picked one out of a basket and the better ones had been pilfered by the front rows. Five attempts later, all I had was a completely flat field.

20 years later, I'm still mad!
 
  • #13
Chi Meson said:
Oh that makes me feel so much better! :ironic smiley:

Not only did you have a girlfriend, you had DATA! A month of lugging liquid N2 up to the observatory--no TA's to be found anywhere--lousy instruction manual--plus nobody else in the class had the same project since we all picked one out of a basket and the better ones had been pilfered by the front rows. Five attempts later, all I had was a completely flat field.

20 years later, I'm still mad!


I didn't say the data was worth anything...almost flunked lab because I couldn't get some of the experiments to work at all.
 
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