I have ordered an electromagnet for a piggyback lift project I'm building. It operates on 12-24 volts dc. Should I buy a cheap 18v dc HO powerpack, or use my AC transformer and a rectifier, and if so, what size?
Terry
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I had a similar project and used what I had, a 35 amp, 1000v. Definitely overkill but you can buy 5 for $8 and these are rugged. The answer to your question is how much of what you need do you have around such as wire terminals a junction block, fuse, holder, capacitor, etc. If you have to buy it all plus shipping, might be better to buy the ho supply. A lot of folks buy computer charger power supplies, they are a bargain.
Thanks, given what I don't have on hand, the $12 power pack is looking pretty attractive.
Terry
I think the key parameter missing here is how much current does it require?
12v at 42 mA - 24v at 83mA.
Terry
So it's about a 300 ohm coil? The question is, does it do the required lifting with 12V applied? That low a current suggests it wouldn't make a very strong magnet. I think you first need to establish how much magnetic force you need and what voltage will get you there.
Specs say it will take up to 30v at 103mA, but for a shorter time. Vans to be picked up weigh between 2-6 ozs.
Terry
"I had a similar project and used what I had, a 35 amp, 1000v. Definitely overkill but you can buy 5 for $8 and these are rugged."
Please advise if these values are correct. A one-thousand volt supply seems excessive. That works to be around 3.5kW. And are you sure that they can be purchased for $1.60 each?
Arthur, Here are the ones I used. Looks like they are now 3 for $7.
I am not an electronics specification guru but I think the 1000v is a peak inverse number for situations like spikes or transients. Several of our experts may chime in but here is the fine print:
- Part Number: KBPC 3510 / Forward Current : 35 A / Maxixum Repetitive Peak Reverse Voltage : 1000 V
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