Copper Zinc Tap Water Fuel Cell

[shylo]

To All,..this is very interesting stuff,..........b-rads,...did you just wrap the copper foil around the galvanic?...shylo

[b_rads]

b-rads,...did you just wrap the copper foil around the galvanic?...shylo

@shylo
Welcome and thank you for your interest.  While the power output is very small, the cells are so easy to make and as @the_big_m_in_ok posted earlier “One set in series with the other?  Voltage and current combined.  Several set added gives you proportionally more power to work with.” 
I believe it was @jeanna who indicated in another thread that developing circuits using a small power source challenges the builder to make efficient circuits.
The cell shown in the picture below is my best performing zinc and copper cell to date.  The design is so simple â€" many can be built in a very short time.  The copper cost me 50cents per cell and the conduit is less than 7cents per cell. 
Do not let the copper and zinc come into contact with each other.  I hope this answers your question.
Brad S

[the_big_m_in_ok]

@the_big_m_in_ok
1.  I totally agree that by adding cells parallel and in series would increase power.  I am still searching for the best way to recover the energy created from the galvanic interaction. ...

Well, chemical physics is what it is.  The idea for me is to build water cells cheaply.  And have enough room to amass quite a few cells for reasonable power output.

2.  Once I add water to the cells, I have connected red led’s and leave them on.  This way the cells are under a constant load.

Right. I see.  They last how long with either resistors or LED's?

3.  I have just started exploring the mysteries of the joule thief circuit and have found that torroids vary tremendously.  I have built 3 basic circuits and all 3 behave differently.  The one with a small ferrite bead from a cfl outperforms the other two by a significant margin with these cells.

Oh, yeah.  Toroids can be made from a wide variety of materials.  Commercially, they're usually the least expensive available that'll actually do the job.

BTW: Have you made the move to your new abode yet? 

No, but that's okay.  The place I had in mind was a *dump*, figuratively.  Too much money for what I got in return.  I'm still at the same place with the same restrictions of freedom to experiment.

Update:  I have discovered 40g copper foil.  Replacing the copper wire cathode with the copper foil has increased the power output over 100% from the galvanic wire and copper wire cells and over 40% from the copper wire and conduit cells.  I think I am making progress here. 
Brad S

Sounds like you're right.  With me, as with others, money is an issue.  I know a couple of  places(hardware stores) that might sell copper sheet---and shears to cut it with---but until I look, I speculate the price may give me "sticker shock".

I can check on that later, I guess.

--Lee

[b_rads]

Status Report:

I have constructed an 18 cell configuration putting 6 cells together for 3 groups.  The initial readings are 1.87v and 2.97ma.  My experience with these batteries indicates that the voltage will remain stable and the current will drop in the first 24hours before reaching stability.  After 24hours the joule thief is still lighting the 2 leds, although not quite as bright.  I am very encouraged.   

I will try different cell configurations after the cells have fully stabilized to see if I can drop the voltage and increase the current for more lights than I am currently running.  This is the same as connecting solar panels together (series and parallel) for the desired output.

I did increase the size of the conduit to ¾ inch from ½ inch and this places the zinc much closer to the copper.  The voltage results in a very slight increase, but the current increased significantly. 

[The Observer]

B-Rad,

Way to go.
I appreciate your setup and look forward to your updates.

Best Regards,
                     The Observer