I Dabbed With a Few Different Coils on My Pulse Motor Build

Hook

I wanted to see how a few different coils would act when I hit them with 12 volts straight onto a ferrite magnet. Some jumped like they were angry, some got hot in seconds, and one needed a little help to float right. Nothing polished, just me messing around on the bench.

Watch this experiment

I grabbed whatever coils I had, set a ferrite magnet underneath, and threw the switch. First one gave a violent kick but heated up fast. The double-wound one with the extra loop acted weird until I got the current flowing through the whole thing. Once I nailed the magnet down in the right spot it jumped clean and stayed cooler.

What you'll learn

You’ll see how coil turns affect both magnetic response and heat at 12 volts. More wire can mean less heat but you still get movement. Positioning matters — the magnet has to float a bit to really jump. And sometimes a little loop of wire kills the whole circuit.

From the bench

Everything was done by hand on the table. I used a basic 12-volt supply, a ferrite magnet, and a few coils I wound myself. No fancy meters in this one, just touch for heat and eye for how high the magnet jumped. One coil got so hot I yanked the power quick. The bigger spool of wire stayed only warm after I sorted the connection.

How it works / what we changed

I started with a single coil sitting right on the ferrite magnet. Hit it with 12 volts and the response was almost violent. Pulled the power because it was burning hot. Switched to a little double coil. Same voltage but this one had a loop sticking out that stopped current from going all the way around. Once I got that sorted and dropped the magnet into the hole it floated and jumped nicely. Less heat, still good pull. I think the extra turns spread the load.

different coils

I tried three different coils in one sitting. The first was a simple single winding that reacted fast but got scorching. The second was a small double coil that needed the loop fixed before it would work right. The third was a big spool of wire that I thought wouldn’t do anything but actually gave a nice kick once positioned correctly. Each one behaved differently at the same 12 volts.

coil heat

Heat was the big surprise. The first coil got really hot in seconds at 12 volts. I could feel it burning my fingers. The double coil and the big spool stayed only warm even after longer runs. More turns seemed to keep the temperature down while still giving magnetic movement. I’ll be winding the next pulse motor coil with that in mind.

magnetic response

The magnetic response on the first coil was almost violent. The ferrite magnet jumped hard. Once I used the double coil and got the magnet floating instead of stuck down, the response was clean and repeatable. The big spool also showed good pull once the current went through all the turns. It wasn’t as snappy as the first but still plenty strong for a pulse motor coil.

ferrite magnet

I rested every coil on top of the same ferrite magnet for consistency. It made the movement easy to see. When the magnet was stuck down in the hole it wouldn’t jump, so I had to let it float a little. That ferrite base gave a clear picture of how each coil’s magnetic field was reacting at 12 volts.

12 volts coil

I kept the voltage at 12 volts for every test so I could compare them fairly. That seems to be a sweet spot for seeing both the magnetic kick and the heat buildup. Some coils handled it fine, others got too hot too fast. Good data for picking the right pulse motor coil later.

coil turns

The coil with the most turns (the big spool) ran the coolest and still produced usable magnetic response. The single coil with fewer turns reacted faster but overheated quickly. More turns spread the current and cut the heat while keeping enough pull to move the magnet. I’ll remember that when I wind the final version.

reed switch pulse motor

At the end I mentioned I’m still waiting on the reed switches and the disc with the 5/8 hole so I can use proper bearings. This coil test was just prep work. Once I get those parts I hope the pulse motor runs smooth. The data from these different coils should help me pick the right one.

Builder checklist

• Grab a few different coils you already have wound
• Use the same ferrite magnet for every test
• Apply 12 volts and watch both jump height and heat
• Check for any loops that stop current flow
• Let the magnet float instead of pinning it down
• Note which coil stays coolest with good pull
• Plan your final pulse motor coil based on what you saw

Troubleshooting

Magnet won’t jump? Make sure it’s floating, not stuck in the hole. Coil stays dead? Check for that little loop of wire breaking the circuit like I had. Gets hot in seconds? That coil has too few turns for 12 volts — try one with more wire. No movement at all? Double-check your power connections.

Safety

These tests get hot fast. Keep a finger near the coil so you can cut power the second it burns. Don’t leave 12 volts on a small coil unattended. Magnets can snap hard — watch your fingers. Work on a non-conductive surface and keep water or a fire extinguisher close if you’re pushing limits.

FAQ

Why did one coil get so hot? Fewer turns meant higher current density at 12 volts. More turns spread it out and stayed cooler.

Does the magnet have to float? Yes. When it was stuck down it couldn’t jump. A little air gap let it move nicely.

Will these coils work in a real pulse motor? The cooler ones with more turns look promising. I still need the reed switch and proper rotor before I know for sure.

Can I use any wire gauge? I didn’t measure exact gauges here but the big spool of thinner wire ran cooler than the heavy single coil.

Related on this site

• How to Wind Coils for a Pulse Motor (Step by Step)
• Best Wire Gauge for Pulse Motor Coils (AWG Guide)
• I Finally Got My Pulse Motor Running (Reed Switch)
• DIY Low Cost Pulse Motor Build with 16AWG Coil

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