Ibpointless2 Crystal Cells

[PhiChaser]

One more thing before I start my working week... Alum and Durham's alone will NOT make a very good cell. It seems like epsom salt and gypsum is a good base formula to start with. Alum might make good crystals by itself, it is just not very good when added to other things, low vA when compared to everything but plain gypsum. I will keep using it to see if it helps, but it isn't necessary it seems...
I used up the last of the last of the scavenged supplies so I will be testing my older cells while I wait to get more.
At least I'm working with relatively cheap supplies; I can get a 2lb box of epsom for a dollar and a 4lb can of Durhams for about $8. The only thing that costs a little bit are the pultruded carbon tubes/rods which are about $4 for a 48" piece (enough to make at least a couple dozen cells anyways)... I'm sure there is a cheap DIY for those too, but they work so WELL!!! Anyhow...
Happy experimenting,
PC

[triffid]

I sealed up my six citric acid/vitamin C cells with wax.Got 8.18 volts and . 94mAs.Thats 7.69 milliwatts.If I had more like 18 cells then that could be 23.07 milliwatts.When I had 18 connected all at once before I got 18 milliwatts.So it looks like the citric acid/vitamin C cells are the most powerful yet that did not eat up the magnesium strips( that is).7.69 milliwatts/6 cells= 1.28 mw per cell vs vitamin C alone which averaged 1 mw per cell.triffid

[triffid]

PC ,I heard that charcoal from fires on the beach is conductive.That was from NickZ who posted it earlier in this thread.He did not like us using junk in our experiments however and made some rude remarks to that end.




I however like junk.I can make mistakes and not cost me a lot.I learn from mistakes.So I make them a lot sometimes!I try not to make dangerous ones.Most of my mistakes are not fatal.I hope.So far.

[PhiChaser]

@ triffid: You're having a lot of good results with your vitamin c! The cells I have made using that have all turned a darker tan, the more I used the darker the cells got (browning like fruit!). They are still producing voltage so I will include small amounts of ascorbic acid maybe in the future. I'm afraid of adding too much acidity to the electrolyte. If the molecule thick oxidation layer on the aluminum protects it enough to keep it from corroding in the epsom salt directly, and it doesn't corrode in the Durham's, then I'm on the right track for what I am looking for in the 'anti-corrosion' aspects of my electrode choices .
So... here is what I'm working with:

CaSO4·2H2O + CaCO3 + (Amylose?) + MgSO4·7H2O +(?)H2O =
Durham's water putty                        + Epsom Salt    + Water  = Hard electrolyte

I'm adding a picture of amylose (starch) since there was no 'formula' for it listed... Might wanna look it up, you chemistry guys will get more out of it than I did...
I've managed another couple cells from more scavenged carbon too LOL...

Happy experimenting,
PC

[triffid]

Hi PC,thanks for the kind comments.I was trying out some homemade contacts to connect the cells together instead of store bought wires with alligator clips from radio shack and broke off two of my magnesium strips.I soldered paper clips together with two strands of copper wire taken from an old appliance cord using three inch sections of copper wire.Then the paper clips act alike small very cheap clips.They work.


I wish I had them earlier to put on my latest panel.


I think IB2 could join the watt club if he had 18 of his five foot cells hooked up in series.At 1.5x18x.500=13.5 watts.It could last a hundred years maybe?


triffid