Sota MP5 paddle vs Jantzen 1892 5.0mH 18 AWG Air Core Inductor (coil)

Success!

I've got exciting news!  I'm so psyched that I couldn't wait to post this.  I'll start at the top.

The Monster Magnet

This is the N45 Neodymium Magnet I've been testing my DIY unit with: 1.5 in x 1.5 in x .25 in Rectangular Block.  (stock photo - costs approx. $6.00 US)

How Powerful is It?

I have two of them and when you put them near each other, you're going to get pinched bigtime when they suddenly and violently clash together.  (I've had the blood blisters to prove it.)  And they are impossible to separate unless you know the trick (kinda had to figure it out on my own). 

What Purpose Does it Have?

Because it 'amplifies' a magnetic pulse, it's a great low-tech way to test coil output.

The Sota MP5 Magnetic Pulser

My Sota MP5 has recently been having problems with the power button.  I emailed Sota and got a super response from Sue.  (Kudos!)  She checked with her tech and gave me very clear, well written, simple instructions on how to clean a couple of buttons to see if that will resolve the problem.  (No geek-speak.)

So since I now have Sota's permission to crack the case without voiding the warranty, I thought I'd disconnect the hand paddle and compare it to my Jantzen 1892 5.0mH 18 AWG Air Core Inductor (coil) using my DIY mag pulser.

Btw, I purchased the Sota MP5 over 12 years ago -- what a workhorse!  And they still support repairs for the unit at no charge.  As if that's not enough, I was offered a 50% discount on their "new Magnetic Pulser MP6 [which] offers two options – our Regular Mode PLUS the new Fast Mode."  And the offer has no time-limit.

You have to hand it to the good folks at Sota.  They are a class act!  I hope their competition is listening.  (Btw, their instructions seem to have worked.)

The Test Setup

I simultaneously hooked both the Sota paddle and the Jantzen coil up to the Lepai LVPIN LP-2020A+ amp and cranked up the Multisine V1.74 frequency generator running a sqare wave at 10hz.  (Did I say that out loud?  LOL!  That wouldn't have come out of my mouth a month ago.)

With both coils connected to the amp, the volume knob tops out at around 47%.  (It's usually 60% with just the Jantzen coil hooked up.)  Not a bad drop considering I've got 2 killer coils hooked up to it.  But I was hoping that by adding the second coil that I could crank it up beyond 60%.  I guess the channels work independently of one another.  And that each channel needs more resistance or inductance to get beyond the 60% limit.

The Test

The test involved placing the tip of my thumb between the monster neodymium magnet and the face of the North/negative side of each coil.  (I assume that the top of Jantzen coil (see earlier photo) is the North/negative side.)  Yep, this is a low-tech test but it's all I've got for now.  I used this test multiple times between each coil to make sure the results were consistent.

Test Results

The Jantzen coil is noticeably stronger.  Without the use of a gauss meter, my best guesstimate is 25% stronger.  Sweet! 

Another test is using a metal shoehorn.  It doesn't shake and shimmer as much as the neodymium magnet but it's still a good test item.  It gets slightly more activity from the North/negative side of the Jantzen coil than it does from the Bio-North side of the Sota hand paddle.  (The difference with this test is that it doesn't provide as sharp a contrast as the neodymium magnet does but it does confirm the magnet test results which are much clearer.)

Sota Didn't Lose; We Win!

I'm not so much thrilled that the Jantzen coil is stronger than the Sota paddle as I am that all this confirms that I'm on the right track with the entire DIY setup.  Praise the Lord!  (I believe in giving credit where credit is due.  And that it's selfish and hypocritical to ask the Almighty for help and not give Him credit and glory when He answers prayer.)

The Next Step

But my next step is to actually test my DIY mag pulser on some aching bodyparts.  (I haven't had the time yet but with these test results, I'm going to get right on it!)  As they say, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."

In health,

Paul