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 2007Comment on this Article
If you have any comments on this article, please email them to
neil@reuk.co.uk.
Recommended Related Articles
People who read this article also enjoyed the following articles:
Permanent Magnet GeneratorBuild a wind or water power system with around a PM Generator
Article Last Modified: 11:44, 21st Jul 2008wind | hydroDIY 2kW Wind TurbineRead about a home built 2kW wind turbine constructed from scrap
Article Last Modified: 08:46, 4th Oct 2007wind | recyclingNeodymium MagnetsFind out more about neodymium magnets used in renewable applications
Article Last Modified: 17:00, 21st Mar 2007general | education | windThree Phase BasicsGet an understanding of three phase wiring in wind turbine alternators
Article Last Modified: 15:13, 19th Aug 2008wind | electric circuit | websitesBuying Neodymium MagnetsBuying neodymium magnets in the UK
Article Last Modified: 10:15, 23rd Jul 2008general | wind | wavePVC Wind Turbine BladesLearn how to make your own PVC wind turbine blades
Article Last Modified: 15:16, 19th Aug 2008windPico Hydro PowerFind out more about Pico Hydro power (sub-5kW generators)
Article Last Modified: 14:35, 3rd Jan 2007hydroVAWT Vertical Axis Wind TurbineUnderstand the advantages and disadvantages of VAWTs
Article Last Modified: 15:35, 30th Jan 2007windDynamo Hubs For Wind TurbinesDynamo Hubs and bottle dynamos for use in small DIY wind turbine generators
Article Last Modified: 12:18, 11th Apr 2009wind | electronicsFree VAWT Wind Turbine PlansMake your own 250 Watt vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT)
Article Last Modified: 14:47, 17th Feb 2009wind | education
|
|
|
