What Is the Duty Cycle on My Lifting Magnet?

 

What Is the Duty Cycle on My Lifting Magnet?

Among the many figures you’ll need to know about the electromagnets you operate is its duty cycle. What is this number and why is it important?

There are a lot of specifications to be aware of as you operate an electromagnet. You need to know its lifting capacity—how much weight it’s capable of picking up. There’s its maximum magnetic field, which you’ll measure in either Gauss units or Tesla units. You’ll need to know whether it runs on alternating or direct current, which could call for some conversion accessories. There’s another term to be familiar with as you peruse the specs: exactly what is the duty cycle on your lifting magnet?

An Introduction To Duty Cycles

Electromagnets are hard-working pieces of equipment. However, they’re not marathon runners, they’re sprinters. While some pieces of industrial machinery show off their power over the span of hours, electromagnets only handle the heavy lifting for short periods before they need to rest. This work-rest pattern is known as its duty cycle, and observing these parameters is important to ensure a long and effective life for your magnet.

Measurement: Percent or Degrees

There are two ways to measure duty cycle. The most popular is to represent it as a percentage. For instance, a duty cycle of 50% should be easy to understand—for every 10 minutes it’s on, it must be off for another ten minutes to recharge. A 60% duty cycle, thus, is more favorable to its operator, allowing a nice 3:2 ratio of operation to rest. It’s altogether easy to understand. However, some electromagnets instead choose to denote their duty cycle in terms of degrees. This is called dwell, a scale that runs from 0° to 90°. If you don’t know what to make of the degree, simply multiply its dwell by 1.25 to reveal its more intuitive duty cycle percentage. For instance, a 56° dwell is equivalent to a 70% duty cycle.

Consequences of Exceeding Duty Cycle

Once you know what the duty cycle of your lifting magnet is, you should take care to observe it. This cautious observance is key to making sure your lifting magnets enjoy extended use. Understand that a duty cycle generally measures use per hour—that is to say that you shouldn’t run an electromagnet with a 40% duty cycle for two hours straight just because you intend to rest it for three. That level of sustained use can wear out the electromagnet’s coils, weakening it for further use. Our advice, in summary? Make every minute of lifting count.