Magnetic Graphite (Oxford Bell)

[kolbacict]

You could get more by rectifying  radio noise.
especially if you are near a broadcasting station.

[Jimboot]

I can get over 1 volt with paper towel, carbon, and either Aluminium or gal steel no electrolyte but needs humidity. can run a calculator with 2 of them. needs 3 or 4 though to get an led to glow. Lower voltages on copper and SS . https://youtu.be/jBQg4GA8014

[kajunbee]

When I was experimenting with aluminum air batteries I found that graphite felt worked well. But I had better results if I treated it first. I tried different things but boiling it in muriatic acid first and then rinsing and drying seemed to work the best. I'm not sure why it helped but I suspect there was a coating from the manufacturing process that got stripped away.

[sm0ky2]

Nigel Cooper demonstrated that 2 diodes in parallel, with one in reverse direction
can draw stray currents through any large conductor, lighting the diodes indefinitely.


No electrolytes, no chemical reactions.


But back to the topic: The Oxford Bell (and similar devices)


See this:


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamboni_pile

[clearchrome]

When I was experimenting with aluminum air batteries I found that graphite felt worked well. But I had better results if I treated it first. I tried different things but boiling it in muriatic acid first and then rinsing and drying seemed to work the best. I'm not sure why it helped but I suspect there was a coating from the manufacturing process that got stripped away.

Thanks, I will try that. so the paper towel just uses your local humidity?