DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES

[b_rads]

This weekend’s fun little project.    A voltaic pile battery using magnesium, copper foil, felt, and plain tap water with Alum.  Open circuit shows slightly over 4volts.  Enough under load to power a 5mm red led directly.   
Brad S

[guruji]

@guruji
Alum: food grade found in the spice section of your grocery store.  This is used in pickling recipes as a preservative to maintain fruit and vegetable crispness.  People have been using alum in the restoration of lead acid batteries as it breaks down the lead sulfate that destroys lead acid batteries.  Many think alum has mysterious properties that preserve the anode in a battery and claim that early lead acid batteries used alum, but was discontinued because the batteries would not wear out.

Brad S

Thanks for the info b_rads it seems that this chemical preserve batteries but not health for sure . In food all chemicals are introduced these days.

[b_rads]

Status Update:
   The 4 penny cells connected in series and built on Feb 20th are still lighting 9 led’s non-stop for a month (> 675 hours).  The intensity is not as good, but still puts a nice ring on the ceiling over 5 feet away in the dark.  I will make a DIY for these, I have simplified the construction and should have this available next week.
   The 6 conduit cells quit lighting 9 led’s after 3 weeks.  These were not constructed using copper foil and had Epsom Salt in the electrolyte.  Either the poor construction or Epsom Salt shortened the life of these cells.  I will be building another test group soon.
   The 2 solar magnesium copper cells, first one built on Feb 13th and the second one a week later are still running.  The second one using copper foil, carbon, and magnesium fire starter seems to be the better of the two.  If I let the water completely evaporate and refill, it starts up like a new cell.
   The small voltaic cell made a week ago is still lighting it’s led.

Brad S

[b_rads]

This weekend’s project:
   I have been wanting to build a poor mans version of lasersaber’s air battery for some time now.  The two cells constructed are slightly different.   The one on the left is made with 6” x ½” copper pipe, felt, and magnesium ribbon.  In the cell on the right I filled the copper pipe with powdered carbon packed tightly and slightly moistened.  Start up voltage and current were nearly identical on both.  While I do not expect this to change, I will follow both cells to see if any anomalies develop. 

Brad S

[Pirate88179]

Brad:

Wow, you have been doing some great work over here.  Very impressive stuff.  I will have go back and get caught up but just from what I have read on the last page it appears things are going well.  Excellent progress.

Bill