@ Jeanna and all:

Here is a photo of a simple make/break system.  I can't wait to see what Hans has in mind.  This picture is for those of you that have never seen this type of device.  We can adapt this like Hans said.

Bill

Thanks for posting that, Bill,
 I am glad to see this. It makes some sense.
I gave Hans a couple of days so I will have to wait!   

Should we invite crash_uni8 to join us? There is probably a good reason to split the thread for people just beginning to play with these earth batteries, but we have learned so much. Maybe we would help maybe we would not.

I think I will give him this address.

jeanna

Bill, Joe, Sid10, anybody else who has built the stubblefield device ,
Do you have a compass?
Here is what I am asking you to do.
Put your device facing east. Now move the compass around the device getting closer then farther.  See how far away you need to hold the compass to have the needle point to the north again. and be sure to focus in on the iron lead that is (10) on the patent. This is the one that is the starter wire that is inside and at the top.

Next energize the device with a battery for one minute. Remove the battery and get it out of the way so it doesn't mess with your readings.

Then do the readings again.

What I thinkis that this design is such a powerful electromagnet design that it takes next to nothing to get it going, AND it seems to stay there. My first one was dry so if you happen to have one that is dry try it before you get it wet. this way the external battery effect can be seen.

Thanks,

jeanna

@ Jenna

The iron wire might be riding dirty with the bolt... Maybe getting there thang on, inducing a little flux in each other.   the system Stubblefield used to time this beast or what the guy on the broadcast desscribes at least, Is much easier than what you guys are saying ..  The electromagnetic coil is the earth cell with the bolt removed...Or so he says.. in place of the bolt a contact point is installed one terminal must be connected here and the other terminal of opposite metal electrically connected above the contact point to a mechanism on a spring.  The speed this mechanism fires or repeats a cycle will be determined by the physical properties of the coil its connected to...

That is a down right ingenious way to create a self powered self timed system... but with the stuff we have now days this "process can be done much easier" via a spark gap or ic chip. that way our mechanism of "timing" isn't Dependant upon physical dimensions of our coil.  Hence how the freq of the secondary is determined
                                                                                                                                    Joe

@ Jeanna:

I did your test and the cell influenced the compass needle at about 6" away.  If I got closer, the needle began to spin in a clockwise direction.

@ All:

I just screwed up big time over here.  After doing Jeanna's test, I decided to wet my cell again in the sink.  Numbers were about the same as before.  Then, I got the "brilliant" idea of seeing what would happen if I added a little salt to the water in the sink.  I figured I could rinse it off later, no big deal.  Well, everything went to 0.  I now have a total short between the coper and iron and the copper and the spike and the iron and the spike.  I rinsed it very well....soaked it....and...still nada.  I am going to try to let it dry out but, I may be winding another one if the salt got into the cotton at all.  Interesting thing though that the "electrolyte" which is too conducting will cause a total short.  I am sure this would not happen in the ground.  Anyway, do not try this!  I will know more tomorrow.

Bill