Ibpointless2 Crystal Cells

[triffid]

Soon I will set up two or three jars with iron rods pointed north.I think these will be "good mines" for ore samples to use in the dry epsom salts.triffid

[PhiChaser]

@ PB: I don't use any salt sub in my cells. When you add current to salt sub you get chlorine gas. Makes your place smell like a swimming pool... 
Here is how I've been making the cells (although I've yet  to determine if a 'rough' mix or a 'smooth' mix works better...).
Mix all the dry ingredients. Durham's uses about a 1:3 mix for H2O to the Durham's so I try to make sure that I have just enough water for that and nothing else. The electrodes are stuck in when the mix is hardening (which starts less than a minute after adding the water). I usually tap the tray to level the top of the mix but some mixes bubble (like you've seen) and some don't, at least not on a big level. I will have to try a base test with just the Durham's, I'm not sure why I haven't done that yet heh heh...
My idea is that the gypsum in the Durham's will act as a 'carrier' for voltage/current, just like the salts. It will also keep the epsom/alum spaced apart semi-permanently (keeping the casmir plates apart?). I haven't torn any apart yet to see how my aluminum trodes are holding up... If they degrade I will start using the method that BigJ has mentioned; cooking borax onto the aluminum to 'protect' it.

Got home early today so I will have some time to do things this evening.
I will do some measuring tonight on my current (heh) 'trainer' cells and report on those as well..
Phicell... Hey, that's cool. They are a bit different than what others are working on...
Anyways...

Happy experimenting!
PC

EDIT: @ triffid: I'm pretty sure silica will be giving us better numbers... Need to get some of that!!

[Peanutbutter29]

More updates..

I tested the voltage on the Gel cell (dry) and got 73mv (actually more than I expected) I went ahead and did a seal coat of just the resin to ensure no air was getting in.  I then tried to charge the cell, thinking maybe there would be a bit of capacitive action (may be some of why Phi is showing bouncing?).  At any rate, I ran up to 18.7v and 0.00A.  So it's definitely not acting like a battery (shouldn't be).  Upon re-testing voltage....same 73mv, so no capacitive either.  I guess this is some more evidence then, to being electrolytic;  Though for an actual truly isolated and crystalline material 73mv ain't too shabby.

Now to test the Gypsum cell I made (8.5hrs since mixing)  feels pretty hard and the separate Glob I made is mostly dry;  though I imagine it needs a while.  However, it's solid and when placing the Mg electrode back in (can see it's out in the overview pic above);  I get no bubbles or visible activity, so again pretty dry. 
**To PHI, how long after construction did you test your cells first? 

To continue, I'm using Carbon and Mg electrodes and the salts mix determined from testing through the night.  Voltage was 1.71V and Current 3.1ma!!!!  I believe we have lift-off.  Heh, but to how long it might last, hard to say;  but I will wait to see how long these should dry.  Note, no water was added after mixing (similar to Phi) and no training or charging has been used.  Note too, the diluted electrolyte "mix" that I used for reference (when testing last night);  for this mix was. 1.53V and 12ma, so its' not unrealistic to see 3ma in this state.  By the by, C and Al tested the same way in single salt solutions (didn't test mix but don't need to) around 700mv and 200ua / +/- 100mv and 100ua. 

Confirmation pics sorry not great, but hard to do by myself.
Volts-   http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt239/billmckraken/Crystal%20Cell%20Stuff/SDC10633.jpg
Amps-   http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt239/billmckraken/Crystal%20Cell%20Stuff/SDC10634.jpg

Also, upon re-checking the (still drying) glue cells;  they are now showing 525mv, so +25mv from when made (I guess that's to be expected)

Upon re-checking the superheated cell (not added more than the 1ml, just letting evaporate) 1.3v, so it's dropped 300mv;  probably water evaporation.  I no longer hear the slight crackling or sulfide AND the material does not appear to be dissolving, yay. (though prolly will sometime). 

That's it for now.

Ugh, Edit:  @Phi....take a look at the 100x close-up of the gypsum cell I posted earlier.  With reference to "why" your thinking gypsum might be helping;  note the spacing of the crystal salts .

[PhiChaser]

Great work PB! Will be interesting to see your long term results. I like the paper boat you did your glue cells in BTW! Seems like you have some knowledge about chemisty, at least more than I do (not surprising, I never took a class!). I'm trying to make a hard cell that keeps a decent current and voltage and is NOT toxic. Also, I'm trying to use cheap easy to aquire ingredients and a 'no bake' recipe that is (mostly idiot proof)... Tall order huh?

Got a different recipe to show me some good voltage (around 2v), another not so hot (about 0.5v) so I will keep adjusting recipes accordingly. Hooked another cell (decent recipe) between the two 6v cells in parallel so I will check on those in a few hours. I may try putting a cell between the batteries with one in series and the other in parallel to see if I can get good voltage/current readings that are more stable.
I think a three to six hour hookup isn't too bad to use as a benchmark considering I don't have an infinite amout of time (or batteries) LOL!! I should look into an adjustable DC power supply... Still need supplies to try long term charging as the cells set up (i.e. hooking the trodes to the batteries before putting them in my electrolyte).
I have noticed that the cells with vitamin c added turn a bit brownish around the edges after a few days and they are also a bit darker in color... Browning like fruit maybe?

Anyhow, I'm about ready to go test some other things and try to organize my workspace/meters/etc. a little better that what I'm looking at... Heh heh...
I still have my pulse generator that is supposed to work off of 12volts so I will get around to testing the results of pulsed DC through the cells in small increments (instead of hours of hookups to batteries). No reason to hook up a cell all day if you only need 5usec right? LOL!!

Okay, back to work...
PC

EDIT: This cell has no vitamin c, and I have noticed that using it as an additive makes the cells softer... Anyways, here is a pic (decent for a change!) of the cell I hooked up in parallel yesterday. The series cell is still showing 0.56v when I test it with the VOM. Took this pic with the ingredients which were powdered... This recipe is pretty hard. Maybe the Durham's will work with just the epsom salt?

[PhiChaser]

Oh, I forgot to mention I hooked up another cell in parallel to the two 6v batteries, only this time the cell is in the middle of the two batteries instead of on one end...
Okay, I've rambled on enough...
Happy experimenting guys!
PC
EDIT:  I guess I did mention it...