26AWG Litz Wire Coil Pickup with 16AWG Dual Drive: 220mA Output Amazes

Name: 26AWG Litz Wire Coil Pickup with 16AWG Dual Drive: 220mA Output
Uploaded: 2026-04-01
Channel: Papa Bale
Description: Papa Bale tests a 12-strand 26AWG litz wire coil in pickup mode alongside a dual drive 16AWG trifiler coil. Starting from 1.5V cap bank input, the system quickly reaches 7.5V then 9V, pulling 220mA from the litz coil — outstanding for 26-gauge wire.

Numbers don't lie — and the numbers in this video are hard to believe. Papa Bale is testing a 26 AWG litz wire coil in pickup mode alongside a 16-gauge trifiler dual drive, and the results push well beyond what most builders would expect from wire this fine. At peak operation, he's pulling around 220 milliamps at approximately 9 volts from a 26-gauge coil. That's not a typo. That's real measured output, and Papa Bale is visibly amazed.

📋 In This Article

Coil Performance Data: 26AWG Litz vs Other Gauges
The Setup: Two Coils, One Rotor
Starting From 1.5V: The Capacitor Bank Edge
The Litz Wire Coil's Stunning Output
What Papa Bale Is Working Toward
A Rotor Worth Watching
Understanding Skin Effect and Why Litz Wire Wins at Pulse Frequencies
What Builders Can Learn from the Dual Drive Architecture
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Pickup Coils
Frequently Asked Questions
More on This Topic
Want More from Papa Bale?

⚡ Key Takeaways

26AWG 12-strand litz wire pickup coil delivers a peak of 220mA at ~9V — exceptional for fine-gauge wire
Dual drive configuration (two 16AWG trifiler strands as drive) nearly triples system voltage from 1.5V to ~5V in a single step
Litz wire construction reduces skin-effect losses at pulse frequencies, enabling higher current than single-strand wire of the same gauge
The system boots from a 1.5V capacitor bank and self-builds voltage through rotor-driven induction
Next planned coil: 32AWG — finer wire, higher inductance, expected higher voltage at lower current
Goal: use one coil strand to charge the cap bank and another to power the drive circuit in a near-self-sustaining loop

Coil Performance Data: 26AWG Litz vs Other Gauges

Wire Gauge	Construction	Peak Voltage	Peak Current	Role / Notes
26AWG litz	12-strand twisted	~9V	220mA	Pickup coil — both halves connected for energy harvest
16AWG trifiler	3-strand (dual drive mode)	Input side	Drive current	Drive coil — 2 of 3 strands used to drive rotor
32AWG (planned)	Fine single or multi-strand	Higher (est.)	Lower (est.)	Next experiment — more turns, higher inductance, higher V
26AWG single strand	Single conductor	Lower than litz	Lower	Comparison baseline — skin effect limits HF performance

The Setup: Two Coils, One Rotor

The experiment involves two distinct coil types working together. The first is a 16-gauge trifiler coil configured as a dual drive — meaning two of those trifiler strands are connected to drive the motor, contributing the electromagnetic kick that keeps the rotor spinning. The second is a 26 AWG litz wire coil made from 12 strands. In normal operation, Papa Bale describes using it as half-and-half — one section as a trigger, one as a drive — but in this session, both halves are connected together in pickup mode, letting the coil act purely as an energy harvester rather than a driver.

The rotor itself deserves a mention. Papa Bale's custom rotor is painted in a pattern he describes as looking like "splattered paint," and it spins beautifully — smoothly and with real presence. One note of caution: one of the magnets in the rotor is a bit loose, taped in place, so Papa Bale is careful not to push the speed too aggressively. The rotor geometry is central to what makes this coil combination work so well.

Starting From 1.5V: The Capacitor Bank Edge

Papa Bale begins the test at the edge of the capacitor bank's stored charge — just 1.5V DC input. This is a key constraint because it represents the low-end condition where the system needs to bootstrap itself. At 1.5V with no dual drive connected, the motor runs but the output is modest.

The moment he plugs in the first dual drive unit, the voltage jumps immediately to around 5V. That single step — one additional drive coil — nearly triples the system voltage. Plug in the second dual drive, and the voltage climbs rapidly from there. Within a short time he's at 7.5 volts, and the system keeps building. This voltage stacking behavior is a clear demonstration of what the dual drive architecture is designed to do: compound the input and push the rotor harder, which in turn increases the pickup coil's output.

The Litz Wire Coil's Stunning Output

Here's where the experiment gets genuinely surprising. The 26 AWG litz wire coil — which is thin wire by any measure — starts producing lights that are "very bright," Papa Bale's words, indicating significant energy flow. He hooks up his measurement gear and watches the numbers climb.

At around 9 volts system voltage, the 26 AWG litz wire coil is delivering approximately 200 milliamps, peaking at 220mA. Papa Bale can barely contain his reaction. For 26-gauge wire, this level of current output represents exceptional performance. The combination of the litz wire construction (which reduces skin-effect losses at higher frequencies), the multi-strand 12-wire configuration, and the tight coupling to the rotor's magnetic field all contribute to this result.

Litz wire's advantage over a single-strand coil of the same gauge is that each strand is individually insulated and twisted together, distributing the current across more conductive surface area. At the pulsed frequencies a pulse motor generates, this matters — it keeps resistance lower and efficiency higher than a conventional winding would manage.

What Papa Bale Is Working Toward

The real goal Papa Bale has in mind is a split-purpose coil arrangement: one section of the coil charges the capacitor bank on the DC side, while the other strand powers the driving circuit itself. If successful, the system becomes largely self-sustaining from a supply standpoint — the output of the pickup feeds back into the input, with the capacitor bank as the energy reservoir.

He also mentions wanting to use a signal generator to handle the base or trigger signal. Moving the trigger off the coil itself and onto a dedicated signal generator gives him precise control over pulse timing and frequency — the kind of control that's hard to achieve when the coil is doing double duty as both sensor and driver.

And he has a next coil already in mind: 32-gauge wire. The theory is that finer wire means more turns in the same space, which means higher inductance and higher voltage output, even if current capacity drops. It's the natural next step in a progression that started with 16AWG and is now demonstrating impressive results at 26AWG. The 32-gauge coil, he believes, could push the voltage ceiling significantly higher.

A Rotor Worth Watching

Throughout the video, the custom rotor is a constant presence — spinning steadily and looking beautiful. The "splattered paint" design isn't just aesthetic; it reflects a thoughtful approach to rotor construction and magnet placement. Papa Bale's build quality shows here, and it's worth noting that the rotor's smooth, balanced spin is part of what makes the pickup coil perform so well. A wobbly or vibration-prone rotor would introduce noise into the output and reduce the coil's efficiency. Clean spin means clean output.

This is a video that rewards careful watching. The numbers are impressive, the methodology is clear, and the vision Papa Bale has for where this series of experiments is heading makes it one of his most exciting recent uploads.

Understanding Skin Effect and Why Litz Wire Wins at Pulse Frequencies

To fully appreciate why the 26AWG litz wire coil delivers such impressive output, it helps to understand the skin effect. When alternating or pulsed current flows through a conductor, it doesn't distribute evenly across the cross-section. Instead, it crowds toward the outer surface — the "skin" — of the wire. The higher the frequency, the shallower this skin depth becomes, and the smaller the effective cross-sectional area carrying current. This increases the effective AC resistance of the wire significantly.

A pulse motor fires rapid electromagnetic bursts at frequencies that can range from tens to hundreds of Hz depending on rotor speed and magnet count. At these frequencies, a single-strand 26AWG wire would suffer meaningfully from skin effect — only the outer surface would be conducting effectively. Litz wire solves this by breaking the conductor into multiple individually insulated strands that are twisted together in a specific pattern. Each strand sees the full cross-section used for conduction, and the twisting ensures current distributes evenly across all strands. The result: dramatically lower AC resistance than a single-strand equivalent, which translates directly into the impressive 220mA output Papa Bale measures.

What Builders Can Learn from the Dual Drive Architecture

The dual drive coil configuration in this experiment is worth studying carefully. By dedicating two strands of a trifiler coil to driving the rotor rather than one, Papa Bale effectively doubles the electromagnetic force per pulse. This has a compounding effect on the system: a stronger drive pulse means the rotor accelerates faster, which means the pickup coil sees a stronger and more rapidly changing magnetic field, which generates more output voltage and current. The system feeds itself.

This kind of positive feedback loop is common in well-designed pulse motor systems, but it requires careful tuning to avoid instability. If the drive becomes too aggressive, the rotor can overspeed and the timing relationship between the coil and the rotor magnets degrades. Papa Bale is cautious about this — particularly given the slightly loose magnet on his rotor. But within the safe operating envelope he's established, the dual drive architecture is clearly delivering results that a single-drive configuration couldn't match.

For builders thinking about their own coil designs: the lesson here is that separating drive and pickup functions — and optimizing each independently — produces better results than trying to do both with the same winding. Papa Bale's trifiler approach gives him flexibility to assign strands to different roles, which is a design principle worth adopting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Pickup Coils

Using solid single-strand wire for high-frequency pickup: As discussed, skin effect penalizes single-strand wire at pulse frequencies. If you're winding a dedicated pickup coil, litz wire or multi-strand wire will outperform equivalent solid wire every time.

Not accounting for coil resistance: Fine gauge wire has higher resistance. If you wind hundreds of turns of 26AWG, the DC resistance adds up and limits your maximum current. Papa Bale's litz configuration keeps resistance manageable by using 12 strands in parallel.

Confusing voltage and power: High voltage from a pickup coil doesn't automatically mean high power. You need both voltage and current. Litz wire helps with current; more turns help with voltage. The ideal coil balances both for the load you intend to drive.

Ignoring coil positioning: The coupling between the pickup coil and the rotor's magnetic field is extremely sensitive to physical positioning. A millimeter of adjustment can change output meaningfully. Papa Bale's setup shows well-optimized coil placement, which contributes significantly to the impressive output numbers.

🔒

Members-Only Content

Papa Bale goes further in a members-only video — testing a 32-gauge pickup coil and comparing the output to this 26AWG litz wire result. Want to see if the thinner wire delivers higher voltage? That experiment is exclusive to members.

Join for $2.99/month →

Cancel anytime · Instant access · Includes Discord community

You just read everything about litz wire coil pickup experiments and 220mA output results.

Imagine what Papa Bale shares with members.

Exclusive experiments. Direct access. A community of builders. All for $2.99/month.

Join the Members Area →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is litz wire used for in pulse motors?

Litz wire is used in pulse motor pickup coils and drive coils to reduce skin-effect losses at high pulse frequencies. Unlike single-strand wire where current crowds to the outer surface at high frequencies (increasing effective resistance), litz wire uses multiple individually-insulated strands twisted together so current distributes evenly across all of them. This keeps AC resistance low, enabling higher current output — as demonstrated by Papa Bale's 26AWG litz coil achieving 220mA at 9V.

How many milliamps can a 26AWG coil produce?

In Papa Bale's experiment, a 26AWG 12-strand litz wire coil in pickup mode produced a peak of approximately 220mA at around 9V. This is exceptional for 26-gauge wire — far higher than a single-strand 26AWG coil would produce under similar conditions. The litz construction, multi-strand parallel configuration, and optimized rotor coupling all contribute to this output. Single-strand 26AWG in similar conditions would likely produce significantly less current due to skin effect losses.

What is a trifiler coil?

A trifiler coil is a coil wound with three strands of wire simultaneously, all wound in the same direction around the same bobbin. Each strand is individually insulated. The three strands can be configured independently as drive coils, pickup coils, or trigger coils. In Bedini-style pulse motors, trifiler coils are commonly used so that one strand drives the rotor, one harvests back-EMF for battery charging, and one acts as the trigger for the transistor circuit. Papa Bale uses a 16AWG trifiler with two strands as dual drive in this experiment.

How does a dual drive pulse motor work?

In a dual drive pulse motor configuration, two separate drive coils (or two strands of a trifiler coil) are both energized to push the rotor magnets. This doubles the electromagnetic force per firing event compared to a single-drive setup. The effect is compounding: stronger drives mean the rotor spins faster, which increases the rate of magnetic flux change through any pickup coils, which increases pickup output. Papa Bale's dual drive uses two of the three 16AWG trifiler strands as drive coils, with the resulting system voltage building from 1.5V to over 9V under load.

What voltage does a pulse motor pickup coil generate?

The voltage a pulse motor pickup coil generates depends on the coil's inductance (number of turns, core material, wire gauge), the strength and speed of the rotor magnets passing by, and the coupling gap. In Papa Bale's 26AWG litz wire experiment, the pickup coil reaches approximately 9V at peak operation, having been bootstrapped from a 1.5V capacitor bank input. Finer wire allows more turns in the same space, which increases inductance and peak voltage — which is why Papa Bale plans to test 32AWG next, expecting even higher voltage output.

What is the difference between 16AWG and 26AWG coil wire for pulse motors?

16AWG wire is much thicker than 26AWG — about 1.3mm diameter vs 0.4mm. Thicker 16AWG wire carries more current with lower resistance, making it suitable for drive coils where you need strong electromagnetic force. It cannot fit as many turns in the same space, so inductance is lower. 26AWG wire is much finer, fits many more turns per bobbin, and produces higher inductance (and thus higher voltage) but with lower current capacity. Papa Bale uses 16AWG for his drive coil and 26AWG litz for his pickup coil — a natural division of roles where voltage generation and current delivery are optimized separately.

Can a pickup coil charge a capacitor bank in a pulse motor?

Yes — this is exactly what Papa Bale is working toward with his litz wire coil experiments. The pickup coil harvests energy from the rotor's spinning magnetic field through induction. Rectified and fed into a capacitor bank, this output can charge the caps over time. Papa Bale's goal is to have one section of his coil charge the cap bank while another section powers the drive circuit, creating a partially self-sustaining energy loop. The 220mA output from his 26AWG litz coil makes this goal increasingly achievable.

What is a capacitor bank in a pulse motor circuit?

A capacitor bank in a pulse motor circuit is a collection of capacitors connected in parallel (to increase total capacitance) or series-parallel combinations. They store electrical energy and can release it in rapid bursts, which is ideal for delivering the sharp current pulses that drive coils need to produce strong magnetic kicks. Papa Bale uses a cap bank as both the energy source and the target for his pickup coil output — charging from the pickup coil and discharging to the drive coil on each pulse cycle.