Enamelled Magnet Wire
Enamelled Magnet Wire
Find out more about the wire used to wind coils for generators and alternators
general | shopping
The two key components of any
alternator or
generator are
Magnets and
magnet wire. Suitable magnets are now very easy to find and their prices have tumbled in recent years: See our article on
buying Neodymium magnets here. However the wire used to make the stator
coils (pictured above) in the alternator is not easy to find and the increasing cost of copper has sent its price skywards.
What is Magnet Wire
Magnet wire is copper wire which has been coated (or enamelled) with a very thin layer of insulating material - e.g. varnish. This means that when it is would into coils, the individual coils do not short-circuit one another where they touch. In order to make an electrical contact with
magnet wire it is necessary to either scrape or burn off the coating to expose the copper wire inside.
Scavenging Magnet Wire
With new
magnet wire being so expensive, it is not surprising that many people have turned to alternative sources of wire. Old
microwave ovens and
power transformers are fantastic sources of magnet wire, and they can often be found in skips or for a couple of pounds at car boot sales. The microwave
cooling fan motor alone contains around 30 metres of thin magnet wire.
The large
transformer in a microwave (pictured above) has a decent quantity of much thicker gauge magnet wire as well as yet more thin wire.
Microwave ovens also contain a couple of useful magnets in the 'magnetron'.
Article Last Modified: 14:34, 5th Apr 2007
Recommended Related Articles
People who read this article also enjoyed the following articles:
DIY 2kW Wind TurbineRead about a home built 2kW wind turbine constructed from scrap
Article Last Modified: 08:46, 4th Oct 2007wind | recyclingPermanent Magnet GeneratorBuild a wind or water power system with around a PM Generator
Article Last Modified: 17:33, 2nd Jan 2008wind | hydroHow I Built A Wind TurbineRead how a wind turbine was built for under US$150
Article Last Modified: 10:24, 6th Jan 2007wind | educationBuying Neodymium MagnetsBuying neodymium magnets in the UK
Article Last Modified: 08:56, 19th Jan 2007general | wind | waveMiniWind Wind TurbinesFind out more about the MiniWind range of wind turbines and purchase products with an REUK exclusive 10% discount
Article Last Modified: 17:33, 2nd Jan 2008wind | shoppingNeodymium MagnetsFind out more about neodymium magnets used in renewable applications
Article Last Modified: 17:00, 21st Mar 2007general | education | windPVC Wind Turbine BladesLearn how to make your own PVC wind turbine blades
Article Last Modified: 11:59, 24th Jan 2007windWind Turbine Alternator BasicsFind out how coils of wire and magnets are used to make electricity in a wind turbine alternator
Article Last Modified: 09:19, 11th Apr 2007wind | educationThree Phase BasicsGet an understanding of three phase wiring in wind turbine alternators
Article Last Modified: 09:56, 19th Mar 2006wind | electric circuit | websitesWhat is Wind Turbine FurlingUnderstand how Furling works to protect a wind turbine from high winds
Article Last Modified: 16:22, 19th Dec 2006wind | education
|
|
