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unknownuser2 wrote:Is it feasible to power the electromagnet with the water circuit?

Would recommend a relay so you can switch the electromagnet on with the water circuit

ftf841 wrote:

unknownuser2 wrote:Is it feasible to power the electromagnet with the water circuit?

Would recommend a relay so you can switch the electromagnet on with the water circuit

Thats a good idea although I'm not sure how you would provide the comparison voltage to trigger it or consistently get the same power.

Anyone know of a good way of turning off the electromagnet? (In my current design, the circuit for the electromagnet is completed, but never broken, and will probably draw too much current.)

PM2017 wrote:Anyone know of a good way of turning off the electromagnet? (In my current design, the circuit for the electromagnet is completed, but never broken, and will probably draw too much current.)

One option is using a 555 timer or the like (through a relay/power transistor/etc.) to shut it off after a short amount of time. (An arduino can work if you don't want to deal with a 555 timer.) I've tried the 555 timer route, and it works, but you might have an easier time just putting the electromagnet as the second-to-last task so you can turn it off by yanking the battery out right after your final task completes.

mjcox2000 wrote:

PM2017 wrote:Anyone know of a good way of turning off the electromagnet? (In my current design, the circuit for the electromagnet is completed, but never broken, and will probably draw too much current.)

One option is using a 555 timer or the like (through a relay/power transistor/etc.) to shut it off after a short amount of time. (An arduino can work if you don't want to deal with a 555 timer.) I've tried the 555 timer route, and it works, but you might have an easier time just putting the electromagnet as the second-to-last task so you can turn it off by yanking the battery out right after your final task completes.

Yeah, I should have done some research before posting. I had my dad teach me how to use IC 555s yesterday. I am just going to use a flip-flop switch so that as soon as it triggers the next action, (which involves completing the circuit.) it will get toggled back off.

(This doesn't count as a parallel action, right. Since it is, in essence, the same as the FAQ that asks if we can simply turn off the motor.)

are we allowed to use a solenoid in our electromagnet? Or is that not technically a student made electromagnet anymore?

Would using a solenoid no longer count the electromagnet as “student-made”?

Ash123 wrote:Would using a solenoid no longer count the electromagnet as “student-made”?

Considering a solenoid is an electromagnet, and I think you're asking if you can buy one and use it as your electromagnet(?) I don't think it would be considered student made

unknownuser2 wrote:Is it feasible to power the electromagnet with the water circuit?

I'm not sure what amount of salt you're using or current, but I've struggled to transfer enough across the water circuit to power anything other than LEDs, so I would think not. However, perhaps other people have been having more success with this one than I. It's been awhile since I've looked at that topic.