How To Make A Powerful DC Electromagnet

Making an electromagnet is easy and cheap. Most elementary, middle school and high school science class teachers show students the basic technique for making electromagnets using wire, a nail and a battery. Students look with amazement as the quickly constructed electromagnet lifts lightweight metal objects like paper clips, safety pins and stick pins. You can make a powerful DC electromagnet, 80 times stronger than the ones made in a classroom, quickly, cheaply and easily.

Step 1

Put your fingers on the wire 20 inches from the end. Wrap the wire around the top of the steel spike starting where your fingers are on the wire. Make smooth, even coils all the way to the bottom of the spike.

Step 2

Wrap the wire back up to the top of the spike over the first layer of wire. Make smooth, even coils up the spike. Then wrap the wire back down the spike, making a third layer of coiled wire around the spike. Cut the wire from the spool, leaving a 20-inch piece of wire at the bottom of the spike.

Step 3

Connect the top copper wire to the negative terminal, and the bottom wire to the positive terminal on the battery. Make sure you have a good connection.

Step 4

Test the electromagnet. Try picking up various steel objects, to test the strength of the electromagnet. When the electromagnet isn't in use, disconnect the lead wire from the top and bottom of the battery.