Author Topic: Understanding Magnet Strength  (Read 1576 times)

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Miller Time

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Understanding Magnet Strength
« on: January 19, 2009, 11:28:11 PM »
I'm looking for magnet knowledge. There are many types and sizes of magnets with varying strengths. Alot of magnets are not suitable for windmill operation. Is it possible to do some tests that might help someone narrow the possibilities??  Perhaps metal shavings sprinkled on a large piece of paper with magnet under it??  Wouold this give you the field strength if you used the same weight of shavings for each test? Perhaps there is an inexpensive device that will help?
« Last Edit: January 19, 2009, 11:28:11 PM by (unknown) »

JW

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Re: Understanding Magnet Strength
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2009, 07:39:22 PM »
"Perhaps there is an inexpensive device that will help?"


As far as I know, you need a guass meter to make such a determination, and there not exactly cheap.(yes mine is calibrated stamp/seal)


If you can measure 3500 guass your doing 'ok'. All, feel free, to check me on the math here.


JW

« Last Edit: January 19, 2009, 07:39:22 PM by JW »

Flux

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Re: Understanding Magnet Strength
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2009, 01:49:08 AM »
It's not easy comparing different types and shapes of magnet. The magnet on its own is not very important, what matters is the flux you get in the gap of the intended alternator. This is very much affected by the magnetic circuit that you put round the magnet.


All you can do is to compare identical size and shape magnets by using "pull" or similar things.


If you can determine the type of material it is made from and can find where the poles are then you can use maths to work out the flux you can get in a gap. Even if you have a fluxmeter the reading on a magnet alone with no magnetic circuit tells you very little and you still need to do the maths for the circuit or build an iron circuit and use the fluxmeter to measure gap flux. If you go this far then you can use a search coil ( test coil) and spin the thing at known speed and deduce the flux from the volts produced.


The old magnet steels are little use for wind power. You should be able to roughly identify ceramics by looking at them but there is significant difference between the grades. If the thing seems far stronger than ceramic then it is likely to be neo or Samarium Cobalt. Unless it was military or from aerospace or something the cost of Samarium cobalt makes it a bit unlikely but neo has not been around long so if it is an old device it is again unlikely.


Flux

« Last Edit: January 20, 2009, 01:49:08 AM by Flux »