On my way out to move the probe but first:

I hit the neg side of my super cap and left the pos side open to the air. then attached the cap to the light/resistor again and there is light.

Yes, I checked this first by hooking up the light without charging the cap to make sure there was no recharge on the cap and the light was off .

I did this again outside and it didn't work and then again inside and it didn't work again. I will try again I just want to report this right away. arrgh

I got this idea while reading Bill Beaty's stuff.    So, it worked - weakly.

I guess it won't matter if we are using earth power but Tom Bearden makes a nice description of how to not use up the power in a battery by separating the fill stage from the use stage of a power set up. This is how he sets up his circuits. but his circuits are still over my head. (but I am getting taller every day )

Bill,

Did you ever read Bill Beaty's description of how a cap works? his site is http.amasci.com. His site takes weeks to read it is so big. also good site. but the page about caps is especially useful, I think.  If that link doesn't work tell me I go and find the right spelling.

jeanna

@bill
            nahh it shouldn't dissipate that bad bill ive taken readings off the cap before. In the coilgun i made i just put a momentary switch off - on cap leg, connect the coil on one side of the switch and the other leg of the coil to the + on the cap. when the button gets hit it dumps the current through the coil. So being that i can charge it and let it sit for a min or so i i think it shouldnt dissapate that quick.
                                                                                                       joe

Quote from: Localjoe on December 21, 2007, 03:49:49 PM
@bill
            nahh it shouldn't dissipate that bad bill ive taken readings off the cap before. In the coilgun i made i just put a momentary switch off - on cap leg, connect the coil on one side of the switch and the other leg of the coil to the + on the cap. when the button gets hit it dumps the current through the coil. So being that i can charge it and let it sit for a min or so i i think it shouldnt dissapate that quick.
                                                                                                       joe

joe
It isn't a battery is the reason. It is pure charge. There are no chemicals to be made or broken down for the intake or outflow of charge on a cap.  (T-RC)
And the charge will last in there for a really long time, but as soon as it is hit it dumps 66% of its charge in 1 time constant and is nearly gone in 5 time constants.
Can someone help explain time constants?

jeanna

Brrr! Its cold outside
So, with frozen fingers I have some more results.

This time I checked for the strongest alignment by using the Cu pipe from yesterday and moving the magnesium block around then put everything on that axis. Plus I did some control type elements.

Cu/Cu 0.047v
Cu/cement  0.179v  then I looked again and it had gone to zero so I did it again
Cu.cement  0.264==-->0.15v and still dropping
Cu/Mg  1.232v
Cu/Zn   1.003v
Graphite/Zn  1.020v
Graphite/Mg  1.189v but the mg block was getting dirty so I held the probe hard in place and got
Graphite/Mg   1.388v

all voltages held steady except for the one with cement.

I am intrigued by Stefan's Idea to put the powder onto some material and make a compressed material in the shape of a rod.  Is anyone else intrigued by this? Is there a way to make a longer rod.

jeanna

@jenna
If i remember right when a cap dumps its load there may be a time constant created by the ESR of the circuit, Its a fun concept to get used to and i dont fully understand it but think of a sharp increase that can only go so high until a on off cycle or bounce back was completed to let  the remainder through it may create a phase differencial because its going through the resistor which slows the second output by 90 degrees.
                                                                             Joe

PS- Thanks for weathering it i would be if every stupid part of my lawn wasen't covered