Ever dreamed of having Magneto-like powers? Now, you can get pretty close! Take control of ferromagnetic objects in the world with this amazing electromagnet. Making an electromagnet is super simple. Just grab a solenoid, pass some current through it, and insert a piece of soft iron inside. When you switch off the current, it stops being magnetic. All you need to do is power this electromagnet with about 5VDC (4 - 6V works fine too), and boom, it becomes a magnet. Turn off the power, and it turns back into an ordinary piece of metal. Since it's a coil, you'll need a motor or solenoid driver with kick - back protection. Our Crickit boards are a perfect match. Note that electromagnets are rated by 'holding force', like 5 Kg / 11 lb. But this isn't the weight it can pick up. Divide the holding force by 5 - 10 to get a rough idea of the pick - up weight. In this case, it can pick up about 1 Kg / 2 lb at most. The pick - up weight also depends on a flat surface, maximum surface contact, and the ferromagnetic metal content. A flat steel cube works great, while oddly - shaped or rubber/plastic - covered items won't work well.
Using this electromagnet is easy. First, you need to power it with about 5VDC (4 - 6V will also do the job). Once powered, it'll start acting like a magnet. To turn it off, just cut the power supply, and it'll turn back to a normal piece of metal. When using it, remember to use a motor or solenoid driver with kick - back protection. Our Crickit boards are highly recommended. Regarding the pick - up weight, don't expect it to lift as much as its holding force. Divide the holding force (5 Kg / 11 lb in this case) by 5 - 10 to get a rough estimate of what it can pick up. So, around 1 Kg / 2 lb is the max. Make sure the object has a flat surface and good contact with the electromagnet. Also, it works best with ferromagnetic metals. Avoid using it on oddly - shaped or rubber/plastic - covered objects. As for maintenance, keep it clean and dry. Check the connections regularly to ensure they are tight and there are no signs of wear or damage.
