Frequently asked questions regarding magnetic products

What is gauss?

Gauss is a unit of measurement that indicates the strength of a magnetic field. The higher the gauss number, the stronger the magnetic field and the greater distance the field extends outward from the surface of the magnet.

Is higher gauss better?

Not necessarily. Generally speaking, for these types of magnetic products any value over 200 gauss is considered good. What makes a product outstanding is the combination of gauss strength and advanced design.

What about some products' claims of 5,000 to 50,000 or even 500,000 gauss?

Some product manufacturers deliver misleading claims by citing the "manufacturer's rating" of their products. This is not the same as the gauss strength of a magnet. The manufacturer's rating is the internal magnetic potential of a material. It does not represent the external magnetic field.

There is another area in which product claims may be misleading. Some manufacturers count the number of individual magnets in a product and then multiply each magnet's gauss rating by that number to arrive at a total magnetic field strength. For example, if a product contains 10 magnets, each with a gauss of 500, the company may advertise a total gauss of 5,000 for the item. This is an error. Magnetism is not cumulative; magnets do not multiply each other's strength.

As an analogy, think of air temperature. If you measure the temperature in one corner of a room and it is 75 degrees, and the temperature in another corner is also 75 degrees, you do not add the two and arrive at a "total" room temperature of 150 degrees.

Why do PiMag™ products include magnets?

PiMag Water Technology uses magnets to reduce agglomeration (clumping) of minerals in water. When water flows through a magnetic field, this helps to keep dissolved solids from sticking together. Owners of the PiMag™ Deluxe Water System and PiMag™ Aqua Pour™ report that this gives water a cleaner, "lighter" taste.

How much do magnets weaken as they get older? If I wash my Elastomag& wraps, will this reduce the magnetic field?

The magnetic field strength of any static, permanent magnet does not diminish over time. It is a permanent characteristic. Static magnets are magnetic because their atoms are in alignment, and changes do not occur at the atomic level. An object can be demagnetized by subjecting it to sufficient force that the atoms are knocked out of alignment, but under normal conditions this is almost impossible.

Elastomag wraps should be hand washed with care, to preserve the quality of the material. Washing or cleaning any magnetic item, however, will not affect its magnetic properties.

Why is 100% magnetic coverage important in wraps?

One hundred percent magnetic coverage is the only way to ensure that magnetism is reaching everywhere on a surface. Support wraps and other products can shift position or move when in use. A completely magnetic surface ensures that coverage stays constant. Only Nikken offers total magnetic coverage, through a combination of technologies — EQL and flexible magnetic material — that make this possible.

Are there circumstances in which someone should not use a magnetic product?

Anyone who is concerned about the use of magnets, who has an implanted electronic device, or a woman in the first trimester of pregnancy, should consult a physician or care provider before using any magnetic product.