Magnet Question

[tallpines]

What causes a magnet to go from having a good magnetic "pull" down to absolutely no magnetic pull within 5 days time?

[moopups]

Being exposed to a stronger magnet for a length of time or by being dropped on a hard surface.

[tallpines]

This is a tiny little magnetic case, a bit smaller than the size of a thimble (geocache nano).
It is attached to a very tall (about 40 feet) light post, metal with a concrete base.

On Jan 2 it was a good strong magnet.

On Jan 6---nothing!

[TNHermit]

Originally Posted by tallpines

This is a tiny little magnetic case, a bit smaller than the size of a thimble (geocache nano).
It is attached to a very tall (about 40 feet) light post, metal with a concrete base.

On Jan 2 it was a good strong magnet.

On Jan 6---nothing!

A magnet will lose it if it gets hot. If there are batteries and they shorted out or something they can case it to get hot.

[Bearfootfarm]

Electrical fields can induce or reduce magnetism

[tallpines]

No barreries and the light pole is outdoor in Wisconsin.

I know nothing about electricity.

Is it normal for an outdoor lamp post to have an "electrical field"?

Or, if there is an electrical field around this lamp post, is it abnormal and perhaps dangerous?

[Ross]

I was told man made magnets lose their pull quickly (would have thought it'd last longer than 6 days though) a rare earth magnet should do much better

[PyroDon]

had any storms lately ?

[tallpines]

Originally Posted by PyroDon

had any storms lately ?

a snowstorm, but no lightening.

[PyroDon]

Ok Hmm whats your flag pole made of . drill pipe??
was it new or used ?
heat is the biggest enemy but unless you were welding with it I dont see that as a problem this time of year.

[Columbia,SC.]

I got a stupid strong magnet from my Grandpa, GOD Bless his soul, years ago and it had/has a flat piece of 1/4" steel covering it as long as I can remember. He always told me it kept it from going bad. This mag. is a horse shoe shape and as big as Shaqille Oniell could wrap his hands around. It is strong and probably at least 30/40+ years old.
I think I could pick up a small boat engine with it!
This is no help but I love my magnet.

[wy_white_wolf]

Originally Posted by tallpines

No barreries and the light pole is outdoor in Wisconsin.

I know nothing about electricity.

Is it normal for an outdoor lamp post to have an "electrical field"?

Or, if there is an electrical field around this lamp post, is it abnormal and perhaps dangerous?

Do the wires for the light run up the inside of the pole? They would induce an eletromagnetic field that may drain the magnet. They would be no more dangerous then the wires running in your house

[tallpines]

This is a huge pole maintained by the city in the middle of a parking lot in a city park.

It has a cement base, about 3 feet high, and then 40 feet of "metal post" mounted on top of that.

The wires must run up through the center of it.......and that must be the reason for the failure of the magnet.

Thanks

[PyroDon]

Not to mention the field generated by the lights trans former .
sorry Tall I miss read I thought you were speaking of a flag pole .

[ace admirer]

does the pole vibrate from wind?

[tallpines]

Originally Posted by ace admirer

does the pole vibrate from wind?

I'm not sure.
This geocache is planted on this pole which is near my elderly folks home-------(and is has certainly given then something else to think about rather than all their aches and pains).

Anyway------the point I wanted to make is, it is 150 miles from me and too far for me to go out and check for vibration-------but next time I'm there I'll check it out.

Are you implying that any vibration could affect a magnet?

My folks intend to replace this "nano" with a magnetic key case.
It will be interesting to see, if it, also, loses its magnetic ability.