I am making a visual display that functions with music and I am using ferrofluid, under which 30 electromagnets will be placed in a field.

 

Has anyone experimented with ferrofluid? What power ranges for the magnets would you recommend? I don't have much time for this project so experimenting is almost impossible, but I can a little bit if I have to. I am gonna order some ferrofluid for now, and then will make more of it when I need it (I will need around 7-8 gallons, which costs way too much)

 

I am planning the depth to be around 1 inch deep of ferrofluid. Which is probably important in figuring out the power of the magnet.

if the fluid will be 1 inch deep, you're going to want VERY strong magnets. It also depends on whether you want the fluid to just form round humps or those spikey creations you see in all the videos. You'll want stronger for spikey.

Well thats what I thought. But just how strong is what I'm trying to figure out. The setup is probably gonna be in a 2ft radius cylindrical tank standing on a side. I am sure that I will need some very strong magnets to allign so many particles, but I believe that if it is less then 1 inch deep, it will not be so effective.

the magnets will need to be as strong as you can afford, perhaps stronger.

Well I guess I am going to have to order some ferrofluid and try it out myself.

good luck! I'd love to see the results.

Are you using electromagnets?

 

If so you will need to know your wire gauge, length, windings, insulator temperature range, Inductive reactance and a few other factors.

 

How much power you are able to safely use without causing a meltdown of your insulator or the wire itself will depend on the above factors.

 

When you determine your power range you will want to consider if you want higher voltage or current.

 

Also if you are using an AC power source you will be able to play with frequency.

 

There are many possibilities. I'm not familiar with the experiment you are performing but I imagine it is just a novelty to illustrate/display iron interaction with the magnetic lines of force in solution.

 

I would imagine you would want around 100 watts.

 

I would use 100 watts as a low estimated figure from the basic understanding of speakers and their performance.