Karpen Pile

[MarkE]

What was the test set-up?

[d3x0r]

What was the test set-up?

Well; was a slight difference... 100ohm resistor in series with a 1.5V red LED.  1 AAA did not light the LED so I used 2 in series... set on top of my refidgerator in the same place.  without a resistor the 2 AAA burned out the LED... but across a 100 ohm resistor 1 AAA battery reads 1.4V ( which is 14mA which is way more than the crystal cell would generate so the battery with a resistor was brighter)
The other was a single Mg-Cu cell with just the red LED (no resistor) ... using epson salt/postassium chloride(salt substitute)... and water; had to add a couple drops of water after a month, but after the second month adding water didn't help, and attempting to dissect it failed... also used silicon dioxide (radiator sealer) to line the copper, but it wasn't the copper that deteriorated.  (john hutchison cells mostly).  Others had longer lasting cells, bu they used a rod of magnesium used for starting camp fires...




For cost effectivness, a pack of batteries from the store was way more cost effective, even considering using gas to go to the store

[MarkE]

Thanks

[d3x0r]

I should make a correction, coating wasn't silicon dioxide; it was sodium silicate
http://www.amazon.com/Magic-1008-Liquid-Metallic-Seal-Up/dp/B002UJ4WS0
If it sits, the copper falls out of the solution and sits on the bottom, leaving the 'liquid glass' at the top

[Neo-X]

This battery reminds me of the diode array, they both convert ambient heat to electricity.