Which is more important in an electromagnetic coil?

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:33 pm

I am soon going to embark on a short project to create a disposable camera coilgun or the likes. My problem is, should I wire the capacitors in parallel or series?

I can increase voltage into the thousands easily by wiring a few capacitors together, or I can increase farads (they're about 50-150 micros each).

Which one will better accelerate a projectile through an electromagnetic coil? Or should I increase both? Perhaps I should go with 660V at 500uf?

Suggestions? Knowledge?

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:58 pm

How do you make one of these from scratch?

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Post by **Gamelver** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:01 pm

Literally wrap wire around something....for a while

. Then build a circuit for it.

As for the caps...why not do both

? Unless you only have a certain amount of caps....unfortunately, I don't know too much about this (I made one a while ago that failed

)

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:22 pm

If it failed, then how did you make it?

(SNOW DAY TOMORROW!!! WEEE!!!! Go postponing a Calculus test!!!)

I read about a guy who tried putting them in parallel to no apparent avail. I guess I'll experiment.

Unless someone has further insight! *hopeful glance*

ATOMICMAN · Post by **ATOMICMAN** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:41 pm

hah i started a coil gun ages back. the parts are buried somewhere.

i had all the coils done and the caps but i never finished the control board to power up the coils in sequence.

i got distracted and made a tesla coil instead lol.

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:03 pm

Whats a tesla coil? I gotta make one of these. Battery powered or wall power?

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Post by **Triton** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:15 pm

direct current via the biggest HV caps you can get your hands on, the more winds on the coil the better

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:31 pm

This might be useful: Disposable camera coilgun

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:18 pm

Apparently Parallel is the way to go. I made one with 2 camera flashes (should be enough to at least launch a ball bearing), and the capacitors discharge, but the ball doesn't even budge. It IS ferromagnetic.

I only wrapped the coil with one layer, should I do more? SHould one work?

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:33 pm

FYI connecting capacitors in series divides their capacitance.

1/Ctotal = 1/C1 + 1/C2

its not the same as batteries.

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:15 am

perhaps you should build the coilgun exactly to the specs in the howto, then experiment using that as a base.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:28 am

I'll make as many layers as I can.

I also think the capacitors might be a little old. New one's soon hopefully!

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:51 am

uh... a little old? what do you mean. they are like 2 or 3 years old.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:41 pm

...and for 2-3 years, they have been discharged by the henceforth referred to "sparking method." That slowly ruins something in them right?

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:14 pm

My grandma work in a camera store! I can get as much as I want!!!!!!!! Or as much as you want.

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