Scioly.org

See rule 4.b.xii for details.

Creating a strong enough electromagnet to do anything useful with (pull a nail with a string attached off a ledge?) seems like it's a major part of the challenge.

Here's a video on winding a coil using a machine built with lego : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQY-XjC ... lebInvents

side note - I wonder if something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9b0J29 ... e%E5%90%9B would count as an electromagnet

Does a battery used in the construction of an electromagnetic count as a "battery source" ?

Ashernoel wrote:Does a battery used in the construction of an electromagnetic count as a "battery source" ?

Is it providing energy?

Does a battery used in the construction of an electromagnetic count as a "battery source" ?

Yes, it would. As rule 3.j clearly explains all electrical circuits(as would be in this case) must be energized with a power source <= 14.4 volts.

It should be quite simple to run a wire from your current source to the electromagnet. It shouldn't take too much, in case you're concerned about the battery source bonus(rule 5.e).

AbdullahNauman wrote:

Does a battery used in the construction of an electromagnetic count as a "battery source" ?

Yes, it would. As rule 3.j clearly explains all electrical circuits(as would be in this case) must be energized with a power source <= 14.4 volts.

It should be quite simple to run a wire from your current source to the electromagnet. It shouldn't take too much, in case you're concerned about the battery source bonus(rule 5.e).

I think that he meant a battery used once, pre-competition to magnetize an iron rod.. Under that assumption I believe it would not. #1: The ES would have no way of knowing if a part has been made magnetic via electricity before the competition. #2: IMO, a pre-magnetized ferrous core would not count as a circuit during the competition. #3: Under this logic, pretty much any form of modern data storage would be illegal, as the data presumably would not have been stored using the same battery used in competition, which would make a phonograph practically the only option for the final task.

Unome wrote:See rule 4.b.xii for details.

Creating a strong enough electromagnet to do anything useful with (pull a nail with a string attached off a ledge?) seems like it's a major part of the challenge.

It doesn't take much juice to throw a reed switch.

Flavorflav wrote:

Unome wrote:See rule 4.b.xii for details.

Creating a strong enough electromagnet to do anything useful with (pull a nail with a string attached off a ledge?) seems like it's a major part of the challenge.

It doesn't take much juice to throw a reed switch.

I already have my tiny reed switches, a nail, and copper wire

When attempting to get the battery bonus, my electromagnet seems to suck away all the current as it is shorting the battery and the other circuits are barely recieving current. I have tried to add various resistors in an effort to prevent this, but then the electromagnet is too weak to throw the reed switch. Any ideas?

dbli2000 wrote:When attempting to get the battery bonus, my electromagnet seems to suck away all the current as it is shorting the battery and the other circuits are barely recieving current. I have tried to add various resistors in an effort to prevent this, but then the electromagnet is too weak to throw the reed switch. Any ideas?

Maybe put it last, to mitigate its effects, or use a microcontroller or a bunch of transistors to make the reed switch's output turn off the electromagnet. This should be legal as you can extrapolate from the FAQ that said it was OK to switch a motor off later down the line.

EDIT: Or you could put it inline with some sort of circuit breaker, so that after a bit it would turn itself off, and use a thyristor to keep whatever the reed switch was powering on.