<p>The heated bed is a big PCB whose traces can act like a coil since heating the bed makes current flow through these traces.</p>

<p>By placing a metal object over it, you encounter a phenomenon called induction which will heat up the metal object (that can be the screwdriver tip) because the magnetic field generated by the "coil" of the heat bed.</p>

<p>Since these screwdrivers can be pretty sensitive the electrical current transferred from the heat bed to the metal bit may turn on the screwdriver LED</p>

<p>Also, stepper motors contain magnets and electromagnets which produce an alternating magnetic field when turned on which, by induction, can produce a little current in the spring inside the screwdriver which would act like a receiving coil thus turning on the led hooked up to it.</p>

<p>Try this with your printer on: put the tip of your screwdriver on your tongue (which will effectively ground it with your body) and put the handle over stepper motors or the heat bed and see if it lights brighter.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-19T19:03:39.423Z
I will stay away from the printer for a while due vacation, but my best guess is that a small circuit from stepper motors are reaching to every other part. I doubt that is an issue with ramps circuit design.
morevitamins
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-19T16:25:35.863Z
2017-06-19T16:25:35.863Z
R3D34THR4Y
<p>I'm using a low voltage active screwdriver that is sensitive to magnetic fields.</p>

<p>It is weird, even I put a metal piece on the glass over the heated bed and check it with the pen, it lights fully. If I hold the pen on air anywhere nearby, it is weak but still lights a bit.</p>

<p>My cards and PSU are not mounted on the case. I also grounded my PSU with a small cable from <code>G</code> to <code>V-</code>. So, what could be the reason? Is that normal for such complicated devices? Just curious.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-18T14:01:42.010Z
What is a "low voltage active control pen"?
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-18T16:21:25.993Z
I will replace 'pen' with 'screwdriver'. It is simply a screwdriver with voltage detector for DC, much like the one [here](https://www.amazon.com/FEELDO-Electric-Screwdriver-Detector-Motorcycle/dp/B071YZG5K7/)
morevitamins
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-19T12:17:21.673Z
If it's detecting DC voltage, that is **not** being sensitive to a magnetic field.  If it truly detects magnetic fields, I'd suspect the perms in the motors.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-19T19:05:44.170Z
It is possible I might be overreacting this as well. Those screwdrivers are too sensitive after all.
morevitamins
<electronics><prusa-i3-rework><grounding>
Magnetic field around the printer
morevitamins
# Magnetic field around the printer

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-18)

I'm using a low voltage active screwdriver that is sensitive to magnetic fields.

It is weird, even I put a metal piece on the glass over the heated bed and check it with the pen, it lights fully. If I hold the pen on air anywhere nearby, it is weak but still lights a bit.

My cards and PSU are not mounted on the case. I also grounded my PSU with a small cable from `G` to `V-`. So, what could be the reason? Is that normal for such complicated devices? Just curious.

**Tags:** electronics, prusa-i3-rework, grounding

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What is a "low voltage active control pen"?  
> **username_0**: I will replace 'pen' with 'screwdriver'. It is simply a screwdriver with voltage detector for DC, much like the one [here](https://www.amazon.com/FEELDO-Electric-Screwdriver-Detector-Motorcycle/dp/B071YZG5K7/)  
> **username_2**: If it's detecting DC voltage, that is **not** being sensitive to a magnetic field.  If it truly detects magnetic fields, I'd suspect the perms in the motors.  
> **username_0**: It is possible I might be overreacting this as well. Those screwdrivers are too sensitive after all.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-06-19. Score: 2

The heated bed is a big PCB whose traces can act like a coil since heating the bed makes current flow through these traces.

By placing a metal object over it, you encounter a phenomenon called induction which will heat up the metal object (that can be the screwdriver tip) because the magnetic field generated by the "coil" of the heat bed.

Since these screwdrivers can be pretty sensitive the electrical current transferred from the heat bed to the metal bit may turn on the screwdriver LED

Also, stepper motors contain magnets and electromagnets which produce an alternating magnetic field when turned on which, by induction, can produce a little current in the spring inside the screwdriver which would act like a receiving coil thus turning on the led hooked up to it.

Try this with your printer on: put the tip of your screwdriver on your tongue (which will effectively ground it with your body) and put the handle over stepper motors or the heat bed and see if it lights brighter.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I will stay away from the printer for a while due vacation, but my best guess is that a small circuit from stepper motors are reaching to every other part. I doubt that is an issue with ramps circuit design.  

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