I am making an electromagnet that will have a pack of AA batteries powering it. I expect it provide 30-40 amps through magnet wire that will be wrapped around a horseshoe shaped core. I will put a switch in the circuit so that I can turn it on and off. I am not very skilled with electronics but I thought this would be pretty straightforward. I thought that until I read the Wikipedia article on flyback diodes (**broken link removed**
Will I create a high voltage arc every time I try to turn the thing off? If so, how do I avoid this (I don’t think they make 40 amp flyback diodes)?
the voltage is therefore so high that the air conducts...the near-instantaneous dissipation which occurs without a flyback diode is often observed as an arc across the opening mechanical contacts
Will I create a high voltage arc every time I try to turn the thing off? If so, how do I avoid this (I don’t think they make 40 amp flyback diodes)?