Ibpointless2 Crystal Cells

[PhiChaser]

Hey PB29, welcome to the discussion!

2nd EDIT: You might just want to skip down to IBs post heh heh... Way more oranized than I am today...

Most of the guys are using copper and magnesium as their electrodes.
I'm using carbon (pultruded rods/tubes) and aluminum for mine.
An 'accepted' design? I've used plastic lids from bottles, aluminum screen with electrolyte imbedded paper towels, just two electrodes and some electrolyte holding them together, tea candle 'cups'... Whatever works and is easily reproduceable? My particular work is looking for a hard mix using Durhams water putty (mostly gypsum) as a 'base' for the 'salts' (epsom, alum, and other additives) to be suspended in.
Date your cells! Even if you lose the 'recipe' you will know the creation date of the cell...
IB has made a whole bunch of different batteries/cells. He found that Elmer's GLUE ALL (NOT school glue) and Morton's salt substitute (potassium chloride and fumaric acid) give good readings. Great work done with those ingredients here.
Um... John B. has made some powerful cells compressing the Morton's sub salt into a copper tube with a slug of magnesium centered in it, same thing as IB only done but with a 50ton press...
triffid has used everything from tin can lids and pizza boxes to egg cartons (currently). He's been using vitamin c as an additive the the glue/s.s. cells with good results.
Plengo has been at the Cu/Mg cells a long time and has a bunch of videos and excellent data to absorb.
Lots of folks have tried lots of stuff, go check it out! Or do what 'feels' like the right way to you and go from there. Just try...
My latest cells have all come out of ice cube trays looking like little beige cubes with twisted aluminum wire and small black tubes poking out of them. (It works well for what I'm doing...)
Read through this thread. Lots of stuff to try.
About voltages: Most of our cells stay below the 1.5v mark. This is because H2O is part of the mix (pretty sure, from some postings/links/etc...). Yes,lots of cells quit producing anything when they dry out.
This is one of the monsters we are trying to defeat.
Electrodes being destroyed by the electrolyte is the other.
Magnesium is VERY reactive so there are studies on how to defeat this... Copper easily oxidizes...
Cell current (amperage) in the cells is very low. Mine are usually below the 100 MICROamps level but some cells are out there producing milliamps... BIG difference between mA and uA!!
Preloading has been discussed but I'm not sure anyone has tried preloading their cells (yet). I know I have put more volts into a cell than it started with but it quickly discharged down to the usual levels... It has been mentioned in the thread somewhere I'm sure. Something to try one of these days anyways.
Okay, somebody elses turn...

Happy experimenting,
PC

EDIT: Heat and pressure definitely effect the output of the cells.

[ibpointless2]

Though I've been resided in non-research for a few years, this does spark my interest some.  I've watched a few videos and read a bit on this thread.   When I was last researching, Hutchinson was supposedly selling these to China;  heh. 

For a first setup; would it be possible for someone to suggest an "accepted" design / materials?
I see there is quite a bit of discussion still on the materials for the crystal, so I know it's not decided;  but what would you suggest as a starter?

With Cathode and Anode;  I don't currently have magnesium, but I do have some carbon rods.  Would this work?  I assume it would show a slight bit less potential than the Mg, due to activity series placement.

If I'm understanding, these are all dying out after a certain period of time (related to moisture).  Is there an average or estimated time one could generalize from these?

Also, has anyone recorded approximations for total power output for the duration of its' functioning?

Lastly, has anyone looked into (or related these to) Electrets?  E.g.- here "pre-loading" the crystal with static or magnetic while solidifying.

Thanks, PB

You need to start with the basic stuff first. Buy a multimeter and get copper and aluminum wires (you can use copper wires and aluminum foil). The very first cell anyone makes should be a purely galvanic cells, get a cup and fill it with water and stick your two electrodes in that and see what you get. Add salt to the water and watch what happens to the amps. Leave this cell shorted out and watch as the aluminum corrodes away over time. Making this cell gives you a good understanding of the basics.


The next cells you should make is a concrete cells. You can pick up a 20 pound bag of quick-crete at your local department store for about $5. put the concrete in a cup and just add water and also stick you electrodes in that and allow it to dry. This cell will also give you a understanding of what is going on, as the cell dries out each day it will have less and less voltage and amps, but adding water will bring it back.


Then the next cell you make should be a plain glue cell. Get some Elmer's Glue all and stick you electrodes in that and allow it to dry. Don't add anything to the glue just yet. Record the voltage of the cell when its wet and when its dried for a few days. Notice as the voltage and amps will go down as it dries out.


All the cells i've mention so far are the basic learning cells, for usefulness the concrete cell is a must make cell. The cells above are just learning cells, the cells i mention next will take what you learn to the next level. The cells above would die out when they dry but these next cells if made correctly will keep their voltage even when dry.


This is where we start to step away from galvanic cells and start to work with crystal cell cells.


Crystal Glue Cell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ngFfU1hHyM


Stove top cell (completely dry - never needs water cell)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EWATxAJooE


Literal Crystal Cell (can be a hit or miss if not made correctly)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVqCVP1HR0g


Paper Crystal Cell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9U6GH9vgOI


Pressure Cell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozyjpZw07bA


John Bedini doing a replication of my pressure cell and making his own version of it too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xRco1OnuZg


Hematite Crystal Glue Cell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpkGJ2tRWxk


5 foot tall Paper Crystal Cell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_islZjfjwk


I hope this gives you some idea's on what to do to make a crystal cell. 

[ibpointless2]

IB has made a whole bunch of different batteries/cells. He found that Elmer's GLUE ALL (NOT school glue) and Morton's salt substitute (potassium chloride and fumaric acid) give good readings. Great work done with those ingredients here.

Hi Phi, Elmer's glue and Salt substitute by themselves won't make a good cell you need to add Epsom salt with it to make it useful.  Elmer's glue, salt substitute and Epsom salt makes a good cell, its important that the salt sub and Epsom salt get mix together in the glue.   

[PhiChaser]

Hi Phi, Elmer's glue and Salt substitute by themselves won't make a good cell you need to add Epsom salt with it to make it useful.  Elmer's glue, salt substitute and Epsom salt makes a good cell, its important that the salt sub and Epsom salt get mix together in the glue.   

Ah, my bad, forgot to mention the epsom salt... BTW I just purchased a 2lb container of epsom salt at the dollar store.
Cheap ingredients rule!
PC

[triffid]

I have been driving around this morning enjoying my newly regained eyesight.Too bad cataracts form in the first place but wonderful that they can be removed and eyesight restored.If it happens to any of you in the future I recommend the surgery.Now back to topic!I have been to walgreens this morning and found citric acid in some fiber products.Coffee grounds have acids in them too and some vegetables have acids in them.And fruits! oranges,lemons.etc.triffid