Working Air Battery

[jeanna]

Hi everybody.
It seems a good day to make another air battery follow up video, so I did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9FVnfPoXaY

I changed the jt circuit to one with 3 white leds on the secondary and I can still light up the one that was taped without any extra water.
I added water in the video anyway and it did get brighter.
The 1 inch which has very little tape over it got very dry in spite of the humidity and the epsom salts added to the cloth, so I had to spray it, but then it got very bright.

I like the flexibility of this battery.
In fact the one that is more open and can dry out can be allowed to stop which I assume will add to its over all life. The in-use life will be the same, of course.

I am not doing the constant run test that lasersaber is doing.
I am just letting it go on then off and again to see how it does.

The one I made on the carbon welding rod broke apart a long time before the mg ribbon dissolved, so I believe this is an important piece to follow too.

jeanna

[conradelektro]

I did some tests with a salt water cell (aluminum â€" salt water â€" copper). See the attached photos. The cell gives initially 2 mA but drops after an hour to 0.04 mA (40 micro amperes). The voltage is about 0.43 Volt. So, such a cell is not very good, something is missing.

The aluminum - salt water â€" copper cell:

- Glass test tube, diameter 30 mm, height 200 mm, contains about 100 mL saltwater

- Salt water: 500 mL tap water with 35 grams of table salt (double seawater salt content, more salt does not help)

- Aluminum sheet from soft drink can, about 120 cm2 (about 18 square inches)

- About 5 meter blank copper wire wound on 10mm plastic tube

- About 0.43 Volt, 40 micro amperes (0.04 mA), initially up to 2 mA

Remarks:

- 4 of the above salt water cells in series (about 1.72 Volt, but sink to about 1 Volt under the JT load) drive two red LEDs in series with special JT circuit (50 mm air core, 20 turns bifilar winding, swings at about 1.2 â€" 1.5 MHz)

- when the cell is filled with “fresh” salt water it will develop up to 2 mA at 0.43 Volt for up to an hour, then the output drops slowly over hours to 0.04 mA (this can be reproduce by refilling with “fresh” salt water)

- since refilling with “fresh” salt water increases the output, it seems that something is used up, which I think is oxygen; therefore the “wet paper wraps” are better, because oxygen from the air can enter

Update on the aluminum - tile cement â€" copper cell:

Air can enter the porous tile cement, and this may be the reason why my “aluminum â€" tile cement - copper cell” is giving 0.3 mA at about 0.8 Volts already for four weeks. Every few days the tile cement needs a little humidity either from damp air or from placing it in water for a few seconds, which will give the necessary electrolyte. The tile cement seems to be a good “wet paper or cloth” (it looks dry, but some humidity must be present to function).

Conclusion so far (including what I see from the many good posts in this thread):

The concept of “air battery” really needs “air” and some moisture as electrolyte. The air (oxygen) keeps it going, while a little moisture keeps the electrons flowing.

Greetings, Conrad

[old man]

hay everyone new on here like your air batt looks good got to do that one



conradelektro
just used aluminum can and copper wire and salt water and getting 1.5 volts dontno about ma it been going for 5 days now and that just two cans  i am going for a week and then i and going to and do  12 cans and see what i get will let you all i think i can get 12 volts out of it no later



old man

[Hugo Chavez]

hay everyone new on here like your air batt looks good got to do that one



conradelektro
just used A can and copper wire and salt water and getting 1.5 volts dontno about ma it been going for 5 days now and that just two cans  i am going for a week and then i and going to and do  12 cans and see what i get will let you all i think i can get 12 volts out of it no later



old man

WOW....... LOL........ 

[DrZoidberg]

I did some tests with a salt water cell (aluminum â€" salt water â€" copper). See the attached photos. The cell gives initially 2 mA but drops after an hour to 0.04 mA (40 micro amperes). The voltage is about 0.43 Volt. So, such a cell is not very good, something is missing.

Strange. Even a small copper coin and a small piece of aluminum foil give 2ma, so your initial current should be a lot higher then that.
Is your aluminum coated with plastic?
BTW. You can increase the voltage to 1.4V by adding a tiny amount of NaOH (drain cleaner). But it will dissolve the aluminum. The more you put in, the higher the load can be before the voltage drops but the aluminum will dissolve more quickly.
Don't put a large amount of NaOH in. It will bubble like crazy and can get quite hot.