what would happen if i plug a homemade electromagnet to a 220 ac?

Question

i made an electromagnet with a nail and 11 meters of coper wire and i don't know if its safe to plug it to 220 ac

what if i use a 220v/9v ac/dc adapter?

Answer 1

That would be an extremely bad idea. First thing, the current in household electricity would heat up the thin wires, creating a fire hazard. Second thing, you would short out the socket, and risk throwing a breaker in your house. Third thing, there is always an electrocution hazard. Fourth thing, AC household current is very different than the 9V DC that your electromagnet probably runs on. AC switches back and fourth, and so you would not get any stable magnetism. If you really want to make a powerful magnet, get a high current, low-voltage DC power supply.

Answer 2

Please don't do it. I can't think of any combination of wire size versus number of turns (around a single nail) that would not lead to some kind of disaster if you plugged it into 220 VAC. Even 120 VAC is inviting disaster.

You'll either fire the nail out of the coil and hurt someone/something, and then there won't be enough inductance left in the coil to hold off the current from melting the wire and causing a fire (or blowing the circuit breaker).

OR, There won't be enough inductance anyway -- even with the nail in place, and you'll still burn the coil up and/or blow the breaker.

If you had 1100 meters of 20 - 24 gauge wire in a tightly wrapped, neatly wrapped coil you might have a chance.

.

Answer 3

Try it, and let us know!