dabbling with a few different coils.
🔬 Experiment Overview
This video is a hands-on coil voltage response experiment — testing how different electromagnetic coils behave when pushed with 12 volts of direct current. Papa Bale sets up multiple coil configurations on a ferrite core and observes the magnetic field strength, heat generation, and current flow at increasing voltage.
The key question explored: what happens when you push different coil windings to their voltage limits, and how does a floating coil respond to a nearby magnetic field? This is essential knowledge for anyone building pulse motors, as coil selection directly affects torque, efficiency, and thermal management.
🧰 What Was Used
12V DC variable bench supply
Ferrite magnet as coil form — holds magnetic field well at DC
Single and double coil configurations with varying wire gauge and turn counts
Hand-held coil positioned near the magnetic field to test magnetic coupling
📝 Transcript
okay here we are into a short demonstration of that coil right there we're going to see how it reacts to having 12 volts and through it 12 volts of current resting on top of that ferrite for ferrite magnet but anyway let's throw the switch see what happens
look at that response it's like almost it's almost a violent response very volatile let's see oh it's hot it's really hot yeah okay we're gonna do the same demonstration
with this one little double right here and we'll see what happens it's going to be the same thing but we're going to see if it's as warm and there's this thing that I made and I don't think it's gonna work that's a lot of wire too we've got this little Loop that's sticking out I think that's what's doing it the current won't go through the whole thing and again it is a big spoon of wire so maybe we'll plug that into and we'll see what happens all right gonna throw the switch look at that
all right now I got it Down in the Hole let's see what happens now oh it's stuck down there it's got to be kind of floating to jump thank you beautiful so we're going to nail it down and that is not as hot
okay all right I probably I'm gonna have to make this wire right for experimentation all right until anything cool is going to happen magnetic maybe it is working well I think that's pretty cool and cut the power maybe it was working just but with that many turns we should be able to use you know this to light it up all right thank you very much that was a cool experiment and I just um I hope my pulse Motor Works when I get the Reed switches and the discs with the 5 8 the hole in the center so I can use the bearings should be good all right thank you have a nice night
⚡ Key Findings
Coils heat up fast at 12V — especially dense windings. Using the correct wire gauge for your experiment scale is critical to avoid burning out components.
Even a simple coil-on-ferrite setup gives a violent magnetic response at 12V — great for testing magnetic behavior but handle with care.
A coil held floating near the magnetic field jumps and responds — proof the principle works, though stability and heat need solving before practical use.
Papa Bale is waiting on reed switches and properly bored discs (5/8" center holes for bearings) before continuing the pulse motor build.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened when 12 volts was applied to the coil?
The coil showed an almost violent response when 12 volts was applied — it was very volatile and heated up quickly, demonstrating the intense magnetic forces at play with direct voltage application.
Why did the coil get so hot during the experiment?
The coil heated up rapidly due to the high current flow through the wire. Papa Bale notes he may need to use the right gauge wire for experimentation to manage heat buildup and protect the components.
Did the double coil setup behave differently?
Yes — the double coil was tested at 12 volts and showed similar volatile behavior. The current had trouble passing through the whole loop, which affected the overall performance.
What was the outcome of the floating coil test?
When held in a floating position near the magnetic field, the coil jumped and responded magnetically. Papa Bale noted the effect was working, though heat remained a limiting factor in how long the experiment could run.
What is Papa Bale planning next for his pulse motor?
He's waiting on reed switches and discs with 5/8-inch center holes so he can use bearings. Once those components arrive, he plans to continue building out his pulse motor setup with improved mechanical support.
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