If you've ever made an electromagnet out of a nail, a battery and a coil of wire, you've made a solenoid, a critical component of many electrical systems. A solenoid creates a magnetic field when exposed to an electric current. In AC circuits, this magnetic field cancels out some of the change in phase that leads to power fluctuations by resisting the current's change of direction. You can make a solenoid out of any type of core; the more conductive the material, the stronger its magnetic field will be. Basic construction of a solenoid is simple.
- Insulated copper wire, variable length
- Core material (iron nail, copper rod, toilet paper tube)
- Wire stripper
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Instructions
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1
Strip an inch of rubber insulation from each end of the wire with the wire stripper, leaving bare copper.
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2
Starting from the end of the core, wind the wire in single-layered coils around the core until you reach the opposite side.
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3
Ensure your wire is completely insulated; non-insulated wire will allow current to short across the solenoid and disrupt the magnetic field and damage the wire.
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Use different core materials to alter the strength of your solenoid. According to Buffalo State University Physics Department, the magnetic field of the solenoid is directed through the inside of the coil and depends on the conductivity of the core. The outside field is weak.