I Got 220mA from This Litz Wire Coil Pickup

Hook

I hooked up a litz wire coil made from 12 strands of 26 gauge as a pickup over my dual drive 16 gauge trifilar and the meter jumped to 220mA. The lights on the cap bank were blazing and the heavy rotor kept spinning like butter even after I pulled one drive. Not bad for a little pickup coil that only weighs 5-6 ounces.

Watch this experiment

I started with 1.5 volts into the cap bank. Plugged in one dual drive and the rotor took off. Then both drives and we climbed to 5 volts, then 7.5, then almost 9 volts on the DC side. The meter on the pickup coil showed 129mA, then 198mA, then hit 220mA. I kept having to take the scope probe off because the speed got so high. One magnet is loose and just taped in so I was careful, but the wheel still looked smooth.

What you'll learn

You’ll see exactly how much current a small litz wire coil can pull when used as a pickup. We talk real milliamps, voltage on the cap bank, and why I was surprised a 26 gauge bundle gave this much output. Plus the half-and-half series wiring trick I used so one strand can trigger and the other can drive.

From the bench

The rotor has nine magnets. One is loose and taped so I didn’t push it too hard at first. The litz wire coil is connected half and half in series. Right now both halves are wired as pickup. One meter watches the DC side of the cap bank, the other watches what the pickup is giving us. I estimated the pickup coil at 5 to 6 ounces. That’s light for how much it pulled.

How it works / what we changed

I’m feeding 1.5 volts into the cap bank. When the dual drive coil fires, back EMF and induction light up the pickup coil. The 12-strand litz bundle seems to collect energy nicely. I tried one drive, then both. Each time the voltage on the cap bank climbed and the current meter on the pickup jumped. Even after I unplugged the drive the wheel kept spinning fast and the lights stayed bright for a bit. That tells me the pickup is giving real power back into the cap bank.

litz wire 26

The litz wire 26 I used is 12 strands of 26 gauge twisted together. I connected them half and half in series so one set can act as trigger and the other as drive later. Right now they’re both wired as pickup. Even though 26 gauge is thin, the bundle still gave us 198 to 220 milliamps at nearly 9-10 volts. I kept saying I wasn’t expecting a whole bunch of energy from 26 gauge but it surprised me.

26awg litz wire

I wound the 26awg litz wire into a coil that weighs between 5 and 6 ounces. It’s 12 strands twisted up. On the bench it delivered roughly 200 milliamps and around 9 volts while the heavy rotor spun fast. I even saw 220mA peaks. Later I’m thinking about trying a 32 gauge version that’s a little bigger for more voltage, but I doubt it will match the 100+ milliamp current we got from this 26awg litz wire.

Builder checklist

• 12-strand 26 gauge litz wire bundle twisted together
• Dual drive 16 gauge trifilar coil as driver
• Rotor with nine magnets (check for loose ones)
• Cap bank with DC side meter and lights
• Second meter on the pickup coil output
• Half-and-half series wiring on the litz bundle
• Scope probe ready but be ready to pull it at high speed

Troubleshooting

If your pickup current is low, make sure the litz strands are cleanly connected in series and not shorted. Loose magnet on the rotor can cause vibration and mess with readings. I had to remove the scope lead because speed got too high. Voltage on the cap bank drops fast once you unplug the drive, so watch the meter quickly. If the wheel slows too much, try just one drive instead of both.

Safety

Keep hands clear of the spinning rotor, especially with a loose magnet taped in. The cap bank can hold charge so discharge it before touching wires. I kept speeds reasonable at first because of that loose magnet. Don’t stare straight down the shaft while it’s at full speed. Basic bench rules apply: eye protection, no loose clothing near moving parts.

FAQ

How many strands are in your litz wire coil?

Twelve strands of 26 gauge twisted together.

What current did you actually measure?

We saw 198-220mA peaks and roughly 200mA stable at around 9 volts.

Why use half-and-half series wiring?

So one half can eventually be trigger and the other drive or pickup. Right now both halves are pickup.

Will a 32 gauge coil do better?

I want to try a bigger 32 gauge for higher voltage but I doubt it will match the 100+ mA we got from the 26 gauge litz.

Is the rotor hard to balance?

This one has nine magnets, one loose and taped. It still spins smooth but I take it easy.

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• Dabbling with Different Coils — Voltage, Heat & Magnetic Response

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