Working Air Battery

[Bizzy]

b_rads
I like the idea of using activated carbon as a source of carbon. That seems alot easier to work with than crushing pieces of coal or bartering a bottle of homemade wine with my cousin who works at a carbon plant in St Marys, Pa...thanks for the tIP. Do you know if it works as well as regular powdered carbon?

[b_rads]

@Bizzy
I have not tried powdered carbon - do not know how the two would compare for performance.  I have experimented with the activated carbon in water batteries and very happy with the results.  In the water batteries, I look for as much surface area as possible in both the cathode and anode for the galvanic effect to take place and this has served my purpose very well.  Not certain how it would perform in the air batteries.  Best of luck.
Brad S

[Bizzy]

b_rads
I picked up some activated carbon at lunch today and want to hopefully set up my experiments later this weekend. I never worked with it before so i am uncertain how to use it. It seems like it is in small pellets. Should this be ground into a fine powder like I would do when I use coal?
thanks
Bizzy

[b_rads]

@Bizzy
I have used stainless steel mesh formed into the shape needed and simply packed the carbon as tight as will go.  A quick rinse with tap water and connect my positive to the stainless steel mesh. 
Brad S

[b_rads]

@bizzy
For your consideration!  Sunday morning I threw together a small cell loosely based on your idea in an above post.  This is a magnesium fire starter wrapped in a coffee filter and surrounded by activated carbon with @jeanna’s Epsom Salt electrolyte.  The cell outputs 1.25v.  The cell is powering a cheap solar accent light with its AA rechargeable battery removed.  I apologize ahead of time for posting this in the air battery thread â€" however, I feel this does have some relevance to the design mentioned by @bizzy earlier.
Brad S