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How to Build Your Own Gaussmeter

A gaussmeter, or magnetometer, is a device used to measure the strength of a magnet. Making your own gaussmeter is fairly straightforward; the parts are inexpensive and just need to be wired to a circuit board. If you want to make a permanent device and are confident with a soldering iron, use a perforated circuit board; if you're just experimenting, a breadboard is a little more expensive but much simpler to use and has the added benefit that you can dismantle it if you don't succeed on your first attempt.

Things You'll Need

9-volt battery
Battery clips
5-volt voltage regulator
Hall effect device
Circuit board
Soldering iron and solder
Voltmeter

Instructions

- 1
  Attach the battery clip to the voltage regulator. Solder the clip's red positive wire to the regulator's input and the black negative wire to the regulator's common ground.
- 2
  Attach the hall effect device to the voltage regulator. Solder the hall effect device's input to the regulator's output, and the respective common grounds to one another.
- 3
  Set the voltmeter to show a maximum of 20 volts direct current.
- 4
  Attach the voltmeter to the hall effect device.
- 5
  Insert the battery into the battery clip.
- 6
  Take a reading from the voltmeter and note the voltage.
- 7
  Test the device by putting a magnet near it. Depending on the polarization of the magnet, the voltage will increase or decrease.

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