Why aren't solenoid/electromagnet windings insulated?

Question

This has been bugging me for a long time. Take this video for example.

I have always thought that electricity will take the shortest path. When the electromagnet's windings are uninsulated, it seems that the electricity would flow straight through the "mass of metal" created by the wire, not in the circular path needed for the electromagnet to work. I have also seen solenoids that work like this. How does this design work?

They're actually insulated. Search web on "Magnet wire" and "transformer vernish coating" — Always Confused, Jul 19 '16 at 13:21
Similar: http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/34743/coils-does-the-material-used-matter — Always Confused, Jul 19 '16 at 13:24
If the wire was not insulated, the whole thing would act as a continuous metallic cylinder (than helix) with zero turn number — Always Confused, Jul 19 '16 at 13:37

Rocketmagnet · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-19T08:31:39.763

40

It is insulated. Have you ever noticed that sometimes solenoids are made from copper wire that seems distinctly non copper coloured?

Red solenoid

This is called enamelled copper wire, and it available in a whole range of colours.

enamelled copper wire

The insulation is just a very thin coating of polyurethane, polyamide or polyester. It shouldn't be confused with vitreous enamel, which is glass. The good thing about it is that you can easily remove the insulation by rubbing hot solder on the wire.

Tinning enamelled copper wire

edited Jun 19 '12 at 08:31

answered Jun 17 '12 at 14:20

Rocketmagnet

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*Some* enamels can be easily removed at molten-solder temperature. But some are more robust and mechanical removal is more effective. – mlp Jun 18 '12 at 01:45
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Coated in glass? – ObscureRobot Jun 18 '12 at 03:33
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It's certainly not glass - every example I have seen is a polymer layer (or several). – Cybergibbons Jun 19 '12 at 04:24
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@Cybergibbons - Sorry yes. You're right. I was getting confused with Vitreous Enamel, which is glass. – Rocketmagnet Jun 19 '12 at 08:29
I'm not sure what the history of the "enamelled wire" term is. Possibly a long time ago it was. – Cybergibbons Jun 19 '12 at 09:34
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When I was a kid I used to recover copper wire from old transformers to make my first electrical circuits: battery-switch-lamp. I recall that that wire's insulation was *extremely hard* to remove. – stevenvh Jun 19 '12 at 12:51
I often see non isolated coils...specially on PC motherboards and they usually shorted on atleast few points ...how that can be explained? seach "motherboard coil" or check the sample here: http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/1x7886432/toroid_coil_in_a_computer_motherboard_l37-571874.jpg – Dumbo Jun 19 '12 at 18:47
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@Sean87 - How do you know they are non-isolated ? – Rocketmagnet Jun 19 '12 at 18:57
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@Sean87: They are insulated. It's just like above, except that it's a clear enamel. – MBraedley Jun 19 '12 at 20:19
hmmm seriusly its just look like cooper :P – Dumbo Jun 19 '12 at 21:56
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@Sean87 - Test it with a multimeter. – Rocketmagnet Jun 19 '12 at 22:11

score 14 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 17 '12 at 13:30

The wire is actually insulated. Most solenoids I've seen are wrapped with magnet wire or something similar. The wire is coated in a small amount of an insulating material. To create an electrical connection, you have to scrape off (or otherwise remove) this coating.

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 18 '12 at 18:51

This insulation is thin and more windings are placed on the solenoid core than would fit with other insulations, it is also usually fairly indifferent to high temps. The goal is a high magnetic field in a small space. Often called magnet wire, transformer wire....

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 18 '20 at 17:18

The thin insulation can also be verified by stripping it -- by using a small flame to burn it (I use a good-quality lighter, like BIC). Then, steel wool can be used to remove the remaining residue, making a very clean surface to accept your solder. This is in my experience the best way to remove the tough coating, especially for the thinnest magnet wire.

Just be careful to use the steel wool over a trash can, as the resulting dust creates much havoc with circuits and components like switches and potentiometers, and easily creates short-circuits with your circuit boards and fine-pitch chips.

Also be careful where the steel wool is kept, and don't let a 9-volt battery accidentally spark it off, which could cause a fire. I just keep it in a little container that has only that purpose (and is fastened in place).

Why aren't solenoid/electromagnet windings insulated?

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