How do you make an electromagnetic generator?

Answer 1

wrap a bunch of insolated wire around a ferrous material e.g. a large nail. apply DC voltage to each wire (positive and negative side). when current flows through wire a magnetic field is induced. be very careful when trying this and make sure you don't have shorts and start with a low voltage

Answer 2

How to make an electromagnetic pulse generator: In the Matrix, the Children of Zion made EMPs with a lot of brain and very few handy materials...so how hard could it be?

The Mild effects could be produced by discharging a 20uF/2KV capacitor into a 2" diameter 20-turn coil of #28 AWG wire. The wire will vaporize once a high current flows, and the magnetic field will collapse, producing a pulse. The coil has a resistance of 0.4 Ohms and the peak current, assuming a 0.1 Ohm ESR in the capacitor, would be 4000 Amperes IF the wire lasts long enough. The inductance of the wire coil is a two-edged sword. Too much inductance and the wire will evaporate before the peak current is reached. Too little inductance and the magnetic field would be diminished. It is a subject for further study and experimentation. It would be a good idea to simulate this using a computer.

One simple way to build an EMP generator that is more effective is to build a system that discharges a high voltage capacitor bank into an air core coil having low DC resistance but moderate inductance, and which will not be destroyed before the peak current is reached. As soon as the current through the coil reaches its peak value, detonate a high speed explosive charge inside the coil to destroy it and "instantly" stop the current flow. The change in magnetic field from 100% to 0% is accomplished in a few nanoseconds or less. It does not matter if it takes a longer time to build up the field. The goal is to collapse the field as fast as possible.

these factors increase the value of the pulse:

• higher peak current at the time of interruption
• higher magnetic field (coil design to match the capacitor parameters)
• higher energy (joules available from the capacitor)
• lowest series inductance of the capacitor (ESL)
• lowest series resistance of the capacitor (ESR)
• fastest interruption/fall time of the current
• fastest fall time of the magnetic field

avoiding having fragments of the exploded or vaporizing coil available in the immediate area to provide a source of plasma which would permit electricity to continue to flow.

You might wish to search the government patent office for more information.

Extremely dangerous.
Don't try this at home or anywhere else.
May be illegal.
Suddenly discharging a capacitor can cause the capacitor to explode.