Ibpointless2 Crystal Cells

[ibpointless2]

Thanks for the tips guys!
I got home tonight and measured my moist salt substitute aluminum carbon and was at about a volt. Pretty cool, then I decided to try and add some voltage via 6v batteries. Wow!!! Amazing you can add voltage to potassium chloride and water. Unfortunately, this makes chlorine gas right? My little plastic cup smelled like a swimming pool but I measured a bit over 2.75v which dropped steadily as I measured on the 20v scale. It goes down slower on the 2000m scale (due to cells discharging into the smaller resistors I'm guessing?).
Since Plengo is working on copper-magnesium batteries, I think I will start with carbon (which doesn't break down I think?) and aluminum because it is cheap and easily machineable, obtainable, whatever...
Epsom salt and potassium chloride (and fumeric acid?) seem the like main ingredients to work around (so far right?) for the electrolyte. What about adding a little borax? Alum? I'm thinking if you add carbon then you 'ground out' when using carbon for one of the electrodes. A LOT of combinations to try but it shouldn't take forever to figure out what is going to work better for a 'one mix' cell. I will try to start with around two dozen (20ish) and see where it goes, space/money/time permitting of course...

My experiments to be evaluated in identical multiple small plastic containers;
Each dated container will contain the same measured length of carbon and aluminum 'imbedded' into each 'mixture' and made accessable to alligator clips for measurements.
A measured portion of the aforementioned ingredients in different combinations will all be moistened with the same amout of water and allowed to 'dry'. (Measurements taken at the creation of the cell of course!)
One mix, measure lightly, repeat as necessary...
During the drying period I will take regular measurements (hopefully heh heh) of these test mixtures and record these measurements in a log.
After a certain time period (as yet to be determined) I will evaluate my results and persue the most logical 'recipe' direction(s). I may also try some other ingredients (as yet to be determined).
I think that degradation of the aluminum and outgassing will be the most important factors to look at (after voltage/amperage that is).
You get the idea. Not sure how much I will actually accomplish, but making small cells and connecting them in series with capacitors to hold the charge WORKS!!! That means you pay for it ONCE and then it is FREE!!!
Is there a limit to how small you can make a cell? Realistically, how many crystals (of what size?) are really needed to get the maximum voltage from each cell? If only one 'crystal' structure is needed per 'volt' (so-to-speak) then you could make a 'bed' of tiny cells and grow them!!!! WOOT!!! How cool would that be?!?
SOOOOO many questions (possibilities)!!
I also really like the idea of impregnating cardboard with different 'salts' and layering them with what amounts to garbage (tin can lids) triffid. That is really taking the term recycle to the next level. REALLY a mind-blowing thing (to me anyways!).
I will try out some of my better 'recipe' combinations with the Elmer's Glue All (great idea there BTW!) as well as some other epoxys etc. eventually... Nice to see immediate results from adding water, even if they lose power as they dry out. It rains a bit where I live, and the relative humidity doesn't ever get below 10% (maybe) so these kinds of batteries would work pretty well (I'm guessing anyways...).
Fun stuff! Science is neat!!! Gonna read a bit about 'loading' up these things. Pretty amazing...
Will share results here as this 'project' progresses.
PC
P.S. Any input regarding addition/improvement to my particular 'scientific method' is welcome, thanks!
P.P.S. Wow, I type way too much... Time to go do something productive heh heh...

Phi there is many types of crystal cell that have been made. I made one called the crystal glue cell that uses Elmer's glue, salt substitute and Epsom salt. I also made a stove top cell which contains Borax, Alum, Salt substitute. And I also just created a pressure crystal cell that uses only salt substitute. Some people use ZnO. John Bedini uses sodium silicate and alum for some cell. a lot of types of cells exist. You can do a YouTube search and find just about any cell ever made. We have wet cell, dry cells and semi-dry cells.


Also yes you were making chlorine gas.

[PhiChaser]

Thanks IB,
I know there are lots of different cells out there which is why I would like to start in the carbon aluminum direction... We know Mg Cu works, and Plengo has shown that borax can treat the MG so it doesn't corrode like untreated Mg does, so that direction is already well underway. If aluminum works for a battery 'case' then empty soda cans may be able to serve the purpose (lots of ifs there, I know!).
Last night I tried just a glue all and salt sub and had around 0.9volts this morning with carbon and aluminum electrodes.
That was done in a plastic bottle cap but badly mixed so I'm sure a better job would have better results. I was just curious, not really after a test result other than a positive voltage (which I expected).
I'm sure my fiancee is just gonna love seeing all those little cups full of mixtures... I need to get one of those big analog reflection style meters to measure stuff with, my VOM is okay but I would like another measuring device (just to confirm readings if anything else). A scope would be nice too heh heh...
Science is fun! Play safe eh?
PC
P.S. The ring crystal battery was really cool IB, so were the little crystals on a stick. Keep 'em coming!

[NickZ]

  It appears that carbon is used in the cells that have shown the highest voltages.  I just wanted to comment that even my aluminum capacitor cans cells which are filled with wood carbon are showing signs of dropping of the original voltages levels.
So, for those using carbon, I would still suggest treating the aluminum, or the magnesium, as well as any copper used. As even totally dry cells are losing their output over time due to possible oxidation of the metals used, or by the contamination of the electrolyte, or both.
   

[triffid]

PC ,if your fiancee ever complains.tell her its not another woman and you are always home at nite.Nick Z,I did have to hook a fourth cell in series to keep the LED burning but I left it on all night.My tin can lid/mg cells produced more voltage when it was raining outside.Less now that its not not raining so greater humdity produced greater voltages.My cells went from .98 volts to 1.03 volts during the rain.And dropped back down  after the rain. I have cells sitting all over this house.I made new ones last night with no cardboard.I really do think some types of cardboard is not good for your cells.I used aluminum pie plates and copper plated zinc disks.I used boric acid,normal table salt with morton salt sub(ie,fumaric acid)and aspirin.I made all three cells with elmers glue-all,mortons salt sub,epson salts and more morton salt sub and added a different substance to each one.This morning 12 hours later each is producing .6 volts.Not bad for table salt that I was told would not work.The fumaric acid is the key here and no cardboard.I dumped about a quarter teaspoon of mortons iodized salt into the cell with the usual sprinkle of morton salt sub.Today that one cell is producing .6 volts 12 hours later.I get the small aluminum pie plates from mrs.Sullivan's 2 pecan pies.I get a box of two from the family dollar store for a dollar.triffid

[triffid]

IB2,If my normal table salt cell fails I will report it.All in the interest of science.I just had to see for myself.triffid