Ibpointless2 Crystal Cells

[triffid]

PC ,I only found 50 percent borax and 50 percent alum used for his electrolyte.I did find another video saying he used only alum to protect his magnesium strip.In the written comments.Could be an error?triffid


I have no borax to try at this time.Maybe next week?

[PhiChaser]

This morning I took measurements of my 'charge test' cells (wax vs. no wax) as well as my 'ratio tray' test.
I've got a dozen readings (per cell, there are 16 cells) over the course of ten days on the ratio test and some of the charge tests have more than twenty readings over the course of a few days. Lots of numbers here...
Results of these tests: Inconclusive, not enough test data... (Heh heh, sob...)
It looks like the wax covered cells sit 0.1-0.2v LOWER than the 'same' uncovered cells. Not enough test data...
The ratio tray results: It look like the ratios have little to no bearing on the final output voltage. Again, read above...
There may be small differences but there is not enough test data accumulated at this point to say that one mix is superior to another (2:1 was 'slightly' better overall, meh). Charging methodology wasn't scientific so those results are (mostly) useless...
So... About 0.6(ish) volts only using epsom salt (in a gypsum base), C, and Al... Ugh.
Tired of these boring tests... (gasp!)
I will continue measurements (whenever I remember) and perhaps something will show up on long term readings. So on to the additives I guess; I haven't tried mixing Borax with Durham's yet... I need to clean up my work area and shelve some of these older cells...

Happy experimenting,
PC

[triffid]

PC,A few days ago when you first mentioned your wax covered cells were producing less voltage.It was raining cats and dogs here in St.Louis,mo.I went into the room where my dandelion cells were hooked up to a red LED and that thing was glowing very,very bright!I have not sealed these cells with wax yet!For some reason I just didnt feel like doing it!So the other night the LED glowing bright reminded me that I had sealed my other cells with wax to protect them from water in the air.I checked the voltages and the amps.For four cells hooked up in series I got 3.71 volts and .60 mAs.That gives me 2.23 milliwatts.These cells are still the strongest I have made yet.The fumaric acid has corroded the copper electrodes to an olive green.The oxalic acid from the dandelions has weakened the magnesium strips.Plus adding a black color to them.No magnesium strips have broken yet.So if this small amount can do damage to the magnesium strips then I have no business using the greater amounts of oxalic acid found in "bar keepers friend".

[triffid]

I think I will get some borax next week from the store and see if I can protect the magnesium with that.If not ,then I will stop using magnesium altogether.You can get welding rods from a welding shop.Tungsten comes to my mind.I do have aluminum wire on hand.
triffid

[PhiChaser]

I think I will take my last measurements (for a while anyways) with this latest series of cells (charge and ratio tests) and figure out where to go from here.
Durham's works great for getting a hard cell quickly, but perhaps a slower drying time will give me better results? The Borax should slow the drying time, I guess that should be next? Any suggestions?
I've done a bunch with epsom and alum mixtures but nothing truly difinitive. I am just SOOO tired of the tests; I know that is the way it should be done, but it is SOOO boring!!
Maybe I should build a few JTs to hook the cells to?
I wonder what IB has been up to? This IS his thread...

Happy experimenting everyone!
PC