Ibpointless2 Crystal Cells

[triffid]

I played with my panel today.I measured the voltage of each cell separately and wrote down the numbers.I found 15 of my 30 cells were producing at least 1.3 volts or higher(1.37 was the highest).Three cells were producing only .2 volts,the rest ranged between.61 to 1.26 volts.


i did most of my measurements before I figured out what OL was.I tired me out and my cells were tired out too.I did four different readings on four cells hooked up in series.Each time I disconnected and reconnected the alligator clips.I got,1.44,1.44,.84,.82 volts.I can fix my bad cells I think.I did not do any Leds today.Tomorrow is another day.triffid

[PhiChaser]

Greetings all!! Awesome thread, looking forward to contributing (eventually).
Great videos Ib!! Hopefully I will be embarking on my own 'salt' battery experiments soon.
I have done a bit of research and believe that the reason the salt substitute is working as an electrolyte is the nature of the potassium chloride molecule. Talk about crystalline structure!! (see pic)
I think the epsom salt (epsomite) lines up better in water and works the same way.
Sodium carbonate (baking soda): In chemistry, it is often used as an electrolyte. This is because electrolytes are usually salt-based, and sodium carbonate acts as a very good conductor in the process of electrolysis.
Borax: Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. It is usually a white powder consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water. I've read the Borax has worked well in some recipes?
ALL of these dissolve in water. ALL of these form crystals when the water is removed. Pretty sure they all attract water too (because they are salts!)...
Dissimilar metals and salt crystals for electrolyte (capacitance AND inductance?). Seems like a LOT of fun to me!!
IB, is there a way you can take one of your pressure tube cells and roll it up like a snail shell (or a tightening spiral maybe)? Not sure that would do anything but it might increase the pressure on the inside a bit (voltage/current up?). I'm thinking snail shells and nautilus shells are shaped that way for a reason right? Just an idea that literally popped into my head just now.
I've made some drawings and hope to start building soon. Keep up the great work guys!!!
Happy experimenting and stay safe!
PC

[triffid]

I got my panel out again.Checked the voltage of each and every cell like I did yesterday.The cells I hooked up in series yesterday had lower voltages today.I did  connect two good cells that were side by side and managed to light up half a dozen of the assorted leds I got from radio shack.All of them dimly but I could tell that they were working.I tested each led one at a time.I have one hooked up now and will let it run for a while in the living room in the dark so I can look at it all day.I was able to add up the voltages from two cells ok ,but adding ten together does not work very well.The two cells added up to 2.56 volts since each one was 1.3 that made sense.But hook up 10 and I got 1.77 and 1.55 volts.
I did start working on another panel.This one is with the tin can lids I seem to do well with.I had seven lids,using tin ships I cut each lid into fourths so I have 28 pieces of metal to make a cell with.I glued these fish scales which is what they look like into the bottom of a little ceasars pizza box(the cleanest one out of four emptys I had on hand) .They give me lower voltages but I do not have to stir them.Plus they appear to be very stable in the long run. So 28 times.8 volts =22.4 volts.I hope to have it finished and drying by friday.
I hooked up the two cells to a speaker and heard static for the first time rubbing the contacts on each other.It was like hearing static from a crystal radio.triffid

[triffid]

Problems I see is high resistance in the  cells and if you touch one too much it breaks some of the connections in the crystal structure resulting in lower voltages.
Solutions might be add something else to the glue when you start to make these cells.Maybe a drop of vinegar?Maybe a pinch of boric acid?maybe a pinch of citric acid or crushed asprin?
The brand of salt sub does seem to matter.Morton brand has fumaric acid in it(maybe less than one percent(my guess)).Nu-salt brand did not have that acid in it at all.So maybe adding a another dry acid  to the glue could reduce resistance?Like boric acid?
Please remember my cells did not work at all until I started using mortons brand of salt sub.



As far as handling the cells be gentle and do as little as possible.




triffid

[triffid]

after about four hours of letting the led burn.I took it off and measured 2.25 volts between the two cells I have hooked up in series.I then reattached the led and got it burning again.Dim but on.I plan to let it run all night long.triffid