Ibpointless2 Crystal Cells

[NickZ]

   triffid:
   If you build things using junk, junk it what you get.  Use quality material if you want to get anywhere.  You don't have to recreate the wheel, this has all been done before. Following the advice of what works, will save you some time. 
As mentioned before your leds will all get dim.  This is not as easy as it seams. Impedance is not an easy thing to solve. You can't just connect a bunch of cell together and get what you think you're going to get.  You'll see what I mean in time.

[triffid]

Right now outside the temp have been below freezing the last week.Inside temps above freezing.I will hang on to these cells a while longer.No tossing out or tearing them up.Not yet!triffid

[triffid]

I'll take my chances with junk for now.If wax or molten sulfur works in sealing a battery and making it last I have not lost too much time.The oldest tin can lid/mg cells are about 3 weeks old.You know the sheet metal for tin cans has to pass somebodys standards(US government) to be used in the making of cans for our food.I know their regulations are loose sometimes.I can get sulfur from walmart drug dept,I already have wax.I really want to make panels with these cells so I'm learning what doesn't work?triffid

[PhiChaser]

Latest testing...
Wax doesn't work as an electrolyte, at least the mixture I used today didn't give me any readings at all. It might need to be 'charged' while it is melting and forming into whatever it is going to form into... Dunno, it took a while and gave me zeros so: Next! (Keep the tea candle containers in mind though, they are cheap at the dollar store and if we end up covering our cells in wax, that is a good way to go!) For the direction I'm going anyways...
Coating things with wax seems like a winner to me since wax is a natural thing (always a plus!) and candles are easy to come by fairly cheaply. I tried an IB recipe cell today only I used a tea candle 'cup' since they are aluminum; my mixture started 3/4 full of the sub salt, 1/4 epsom salt. I added epsom salt as it cooked down to keep it full... Wow do those epsom salts hold a lot of water! I kept wicking it off with a paper towel... I used my pultruded carbon in the center, it looks like a burnt tea candle... I had to use some wax to hold the carbon in though... Gonna have to find a way to anchor it into the electrolytes better (it is pretty smooth)... Also did a couple batteries with impregnated paper towels, my pultruded carbon tubing and aluminum wire. So far it looks like they want to give me around 0.54v but long term tests are needed naturally. They look like little paper towel rolls with wire wrapped around them but there is over 1/16" thick worth of electrolyte paper towel on the  carbon tube (which is only 1/8" OD and 1/16" thick!). I wrapped them 'dry' with the wire them added water to swell them up... They seem dry buy we will see in a week or two... (Gonna have to upload some pics...)
@ triffid: Anything less than a half volt seems like it wouldn't be worth persuing unless it has a measureable current. Those partial voltages add up though, so don't discount them yet! Bummer your cells dropped so much overnight. Mayber your VOM is low on batteries?
I never did get around to getting that aspirin...
Time to start dinner, cya guys,
PC

[triffid]

I heated up one tin can lid/mg cell and got my voltage back!!!I put it on the hot plate and turned it on med for a couple of minutes.I left it on long enough to burn my fingers!So its back up to .95 volts,up from .25 volts.Its cool enough to touch.And easily reads .87 volts.So that problem solved.I can recharge my casimir plates with heat.Just a minute or two on the hotplate brought it back!triffid