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Author Topic: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES  (Read 73023 times)

Bizzy

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DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« on: February 23, 2011, 05:05:49 PM »
This thread is a spin-off of Lasersaber’s working air battery thread. I applaud Lasersaber for his creativity and skill at inventing. And we look forward to his DIY joule ringer circuit.
This thread will detail how to make a working acid free carbon battery. Some of the initial information will be repeats from Lasersaber’s thread so bare with us while we complete the switch over. It is our goal to supply all the needed information to construct a usable battery system with only minimal component degradation.  This is achieved by eliminating acid from the cell and using water as the only electrolytic source. The ongoing experiments will help everyone to understand the thought process behind the cells and to give us the maximum possible efficiency.
I hope you find it useful. We only ask that you please contribute.
Thanks, Danke sehr, und merci vielmals
Bizzy

b_rads

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2011, 05:45:44 PM »
In early experiments, this has been a good source for the carbon.  I would be interested to know if others have found another good, cost effective, high performing source for carbon.

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2011, 06:02:05 PM »
Good Morning
This is a picture of my working "air" battery
Each cell is made of copper casing with a copper plug bottom. A thin layer of activated carbon at the bottom. A magnesium rod is covered with mascing tape and incerted inside and more activatred carbon is filled in. I poured a shot glass full of water into each cell and hooked them in a series. and the result is 5.96 volts.
Currently I am running an led on just 2 cells to see how long it runns.
Bizzy

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2011, 06:05:06 PM »
Good morning
Here is a diagram of the cell I used. I then hooked them up in a series. Copper to magnesium. I hope to work on it more after work today and will report on what I find. Enjoy
Bizzy

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2011, 06:08:12 PM »
Good morning
The following are the results of my latest test. I wanted to know if granular size of the carbon made a differance. Below is a picruew of a single cell with activated carbon just as you would buy it at the store.
Bizzy

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2011, 06:09:45 PM »
The following is another cell with the carbon finely ground. Although .08 volts may not seem like a big differance, it is an increase. And the water is still settling into that cell.
When I pooured the water into the granualr cells the water went down easily. However in the case of the fine ground carbon it is taking much longer to filter down. I am hoping by this evening it will be full and I can get better readings.
Bizzy

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2011, 06:11:56 PM »
Good morning
I discovered an error last night. When I was originally setting up the cells my wife came in and I forgot to add water to the last cell which by itself was not producing any power. So as a result my original readings of 5.9 volts was just for 4 cells not five.
Each cell individually produces bewteen 1.49 and 1.52 (not including the new cell with fine carbon instead of granualar) If water would have been added to the 5th cell the power would have been much higher.
Just to prove this I hooked all the cells in a series this morning before work. In this I also included the new cell and I was getting 7.40 volts.
The new cell individual output was already to 1.61 volts. I will have more updates tomorrow.
Bizzy

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2011, 06:13:53 PM »
Good Morning
As promised here are the results of all the cells hooked in series including the cell with finely ground carbon. 7.63 volts.
I know for certain it can go higher with the ground carbon, but there are still other tests that need done and the granular carbon is easier to work with.So I am going to leave the others granular for now
Bizzy

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2011, 06:16:21 PM »
Hi Brad
I wanted to compare your idea of incerting the wire as you do compared with using the copper tube as I do. The following are those results.
In the following picture is a single cell using granular carbon and magnesium as before. I was hoping to use a galvanized tube and thought I had one in my workshop but didn't.
The voltage results were 1.51 volts.
Bizzy

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2011, 06:19:02 PM »
continued...
The following is a picture of a cell using just a single wire in the granualar carbon. Just as the previous picture I used a magnesium rod. The only other differance is I removed the copper tube and used a PVC pipe to contain the carbon and water around the magnesium rod. The resulting voltage is actually 1.08 volts. This photo was taken the previous night.
But  I have to conclude that a larger contact area is needed to maximize voltage.
Bizzy

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2011, 06:21:01 PM »
continued...
The following is a picture of a cell using just a single wire in the granualar carbon. Just as the previous picture I used a magnesium rod. The only other differance is I removed the copper tube and used a PVC pipe to contain the carbon and water around the magnesium rod. The actual resulting voltage is 1.08 volts. The picture was taken the previous night
So I have to conclude that a larger contact area is needed to maximize voltage.
Bizzy

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2011, 06:23:12 PM »
In early experiments, this has been a good source for the carbon.  I would be interested to know if others have found another good, cost effective, high performing source for carbon.
Hi Brad
Another cheap source of carbon would be coal and just crush it yourself. Fortunately there are railraod tracks next to my hunting camp and they often spill coal along the side.
Bizzy

b_rads

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2011, 06:35:31 PM »
Good Morning
As promised here are the results of all the cells hooked in series including the cell with finely ground carbon. 7.63 volts.
I know for certain it can go higher with the ground carbon, but there are still other tests that need done and the granular carbon is easier to work with.So I am going to leave the others granular for now
Bizzy
For the ground carbon, are you crushing the coal you mentioned or crushing the carbon pellets.

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2011, 06:41:32 PM »
For the ground carbon, are you crushing the coal you mentioned or crushing the carbon pellets.
Originally I crushed the coal until you told me about the activated carbon. The cell with the crushed carbon is from the activated carbon.
However when I I do the tests on the various dielectrics, tape, paper(coffee filter) clothe and plastic, I will use the the granualar carbon, only becuase it takes so long for teh water to settle into the crucshed carbon, and because it takes alot of time and wine :) to crush the carbon.
Bizzy

Bizzy

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Re: DIY ACID FREE CARBON BATTERIES
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2011, 06:49:14 PM »
fyi here is a link to my source for magnesium

http://www.rotometals.com/product-p/magnesiumextrudedrod.htm

I use the .675 diameter extrusions and they will cut it to length for you.

For copper tubing you can go to any hardware store and get 1" diameter copper tubing and the respective end caps.

The activated carbon can be purchased at any pet store that sells aquirium supplies
Bizzy
« Last Edit: February 23, 2011, 07:26:15 PM by Bizzy »