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Author Topic: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.  (Read 158533 times)

kooler

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #105 on: April 04, 2010, 04:45:44 AM »
hey folks
i made my first jeannas power plant
and i notice that the gain is with the potting soil
my first one was of my dirt from my corn field..
1.178 volts.. .. the amps were in the very low microamp range..  >:(
now the potting soil that miracle grow makes.. WoW..   ;D
1.276 volts .. .. 11 ma's..
my wife likes her new earth leds jt's in her flowers.. but the mulch is the secret to them.. they put a mild acid in the dirt..
this is only my research so everyone else will probably have different results..
good job jeanna..

robbie

jeanna

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #106 on: April 04, 2010, 05:01:00 AM »
robbie,
Are you using magnesium ribbon and copper?

jeanna

kooler

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #107 on: April 04, 2010, 05:19:28 AM »
jeanna
sorry i should have told the wire i was using..
it is a magnesium and aluminum alloy wire..it is a wire used in welding.. you welding guys know which one i am talking about.. mig..
i am a mechanic and welder.. so i come across alot of usable parts in the R&D world
like 1000 feet of mag of the 20-22 awg for 8$ range.. (you can get them out of starter solenoid relays.. in lawn mowers or fords)
i was working on one of my welders 4 months ago and came across something really kool..
i'll post a video of it one day..
oh .. in the mig welding section of your hardware store you will also find magnesium combined with mild steel wire if you was to ever need it.. ..

edit.. i'm using the alloy wire for the neg..
and copper for the pos..

robbie

Pirate88179

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #108 on: April 04, 2010, 06:40:19 AM »
Jeanna:

Replace your copper with a carbon rod from a D size battery.  Not an alkaline but a bat. marked "heavy duty" regular one has the carbon rod.  I will bet you that this will increase the output without harm to your plant from the copper chemicals occurring during the reaction.

I am going to try this as soon as I am able to.

Bill

dcc

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #109 on: April 04, 2010, 02:16:03 PM »
I found what appears to be a good buy on some graphite bars on Ebay.  Headline:  Flat Bulk Graphite , Electroplating,glass blowing 9 pcs
11 1/4" x 4 1/4" x 1" 9 pieces in each box!!


http://cgi.ebay.com/Flat-Bulk-Graphite-Electroplating-glass-blowing-9-pcs_W0QQitemZ300394122409QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45f0e28ca9

Looks like seller has a good supply...

jeanna

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #110 on: April 04, 2010, 09:10:25 PM »
Jeanna:

Replace your copper with a carbon rod from a D size battery.  Not an alkaline but a bat. marked "heavy duty" regular one has the carbon rod.  I will bet you that this will increase the output without harm to your plant from the copper chemicals occurring during the reaction.

I am going to try this as soon as I am able to.

Bill
Hi Bill,

I have been finding some interesting things out as I search for soil metals and fertilizers etc.
One thing I thought was very interesting is that a healthy plant needs even more copper than magnesium!
I am wondering if we are getting sold a "bill of goods" with this common talk that copper is not good for plants or us. There is a healthy midpoint in all this because some copper is essential.
For me, a lot of this is a biology experiment.
Of course, it is not that for you or most others.

I am sure the carbon is fine here, but the copper oxide is so much more visible, I will wait to see the green.
As you probably remember, I got my best results in my outdoors EER's when I used some carbon welding rods someone gave me.. Also the spent carbon granules from a water filter gave me the very best voltage.
But, these 2 minerals (Cu and Mg) seem to be a pair that work together in living organisms.
I am wondering if there will ever be green copper oxide on the wire, or if it shows up, how long it will take.

The gutenberg project has that old battery book from the telephone experimenters of the 1800's. I remember Zn and Cu oxides being in a single doorbell battery and one was heavier than the other and so dropped to the bottom of the jar. As long as you kept one electrode higher than the other the reaction continued.
I remember wondering at the time if we could use some other metal as electrode after all the electrolyte had changed in this jar.
So, this is also a way for me to look into that idea.

None of this might end up being very good, but it has been over a week, and all I have needed to add was dolomite!
This is such a simple EER.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion. I will see about that after I finish with the copper part.

jeanna
« Last Edit: April 05, 2010, 12:28:09 AM by jeanna »

jeanna

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #111 on: April 04, 2010, 09:55:12 PM »
This is an excerpt from the gutenberg book that so intrigued me.
This cell is called a closed circuit battery because it works better when it is in constant use!!!
See if you don't find this fascinating:
-------------------
Closed-Circuit Cells. Gravity-Cell:—Coming now to the consideration of closed-circuit or constant-current cells, the most important is the well-known gravity, or blue-stone, cell, devised by Daniell. It is largely used in telegraphy, and often in telephony in such cases as require a constantly flowing current of small quantity. Such a cell is shown in Fig. 64.

The elements of the gravity cell are electrodes of copper and zinc. The solution in which the copper plate is immersed is primarily a solution of copper sulphate, commonly known as blue-stone, in water. The zinc plate after the cell is in action is immersed in a solution of sulphate of zinc which is formed around it.

The glass jar is usually cylindrical, the standard sizes being 5 inches diameter and 7 inches deep; and also 6 inches diameter and 8 inches deep. The copper electrode is of sheet copper of the form shown, and it is partly covered with crystals of blue-stone or copper sulphate. Frequently, in later forms of cells, the copper electrode consists merely of a straight, thick, rectangular bar of copper laid horizontally, directly on top of the blue-stone crystals. In all cases a rubber-insulated wire is attached by riveting to the copper electrode, and passes up through the electrolyte to form the positive terminal.


The zinc is, as a rule, of crowfoot form, as shown, whence this cell derives the commonly applied name of crowfoot cell. This is essentially a two-fluid cell, for in its action zinc sulphate is formed, and this being lighter than copper sulphate rises to the top of the jar and surrounds the zinc. Gravity, therefore, serves to keep the two fluids separate.

In the action of the cell, when the external circuit is closed, sulphuric acid is formed which attacks the zinc to form sulphate of zinc Page 107 and to liberate hydrogen, which follows its tendency to attach itself to the copper plate. But in so doing the hydrogen necessarily passes through the solution of sulphate of copper surrounding the copper plate. The hydrogen immediately combines with the SO4 radical, forming therewith sulphuric acid, and liberating metallic copper. This sulphuric acid, being lighter than the copper sulphate, rises to the surface of the zinc and attacks the zinc, thus forming more sulphate of zinc. The metallic copper so formed is deposited on the copper plate, thereby keeping the surface bright and clean. Since hydrogen is thus diverted from the copper plate, polarization does not ensue.

The zinc sulphate being colorless, while the copper sulphate is of a dark blue color, the separating line of the two liquids is easily distinguishable. This line is called the blue line and care should be taken that it does not reach the zinc and cause a deposit of copper to be placed thereon.

As has been stated, these two liquids do not mix readily, but they will eventually mingle unless the action of the cell is sufficient to use up the copper sulphate as speedily as it is dissolved. Thus it will be seen that while the cell is free from polarization and local action, there is, nevertheless, a deteriorating effect if the cell is allowed to remain long on open circuit. Therefore, it should be used when a constant current is required.
« Last Edit: April 05, 2010, 12:30:51 AM by jeanna »

Pirate88179

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #112 on: April 04, 2010, 10:33:19 PM »
Jeanna:

That gravity cell info is very cool.  Thanks.

Below is quoted from our own Stefan Hartman back in November of 2007 in the original EB topic:

"But surely you will consume both rods and spoil the earth with it,so there will be dangerous copper salts and zinc saltsgoing into the soils, but I don?t know, how dnagerous they are...Probably not the zinc salts,but probably the copper salts.So don?t do this at a places where you draw water from a well  to drink."

Seems like a long time ago now.  Anyway, that is what I was remembering about the copper oxides being bad possibly.  Your chemistry knowledge far exceeds mine...actually, I have very little knowledge of chemistry.

I see what you are saying about your experiments.  It will be cool to see what happens.

Reading the beginning of that old topic really brought back some memories Jeanna.
I sure have come a long way since then I would say.  I know we all have but it is amazing to see how little I knew back then, ha ha.

I look forward to your results.

Bill

Mk1

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #113 on: April 04, 2010, 10:34:34 PM »
@all

I just remembered something , and metal rust will help the galvanic effect but also heating it give some other type of galvanic structure, maybe better for plants.

The type of plants use will have a role in the galvanic effect , the soil it needs
will determine the acidic or alkaline structure of the battery , neutral ph plants should be detrimental to the galvanic action.

Potato battery anyone?

Great work everyone !

Mark

jeanna

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #114 on: April 04, 2010, 10:50:22 PM »
CosmicGnarler at EF gave me this link yesterday and it fills in a lot of the gaps.

http://www.rexresearch.com/articles/elcultur.htm

At the bottom is a bit about pulsing with light.
I think I will make a jtc with a pot and a few red lights.
 Later, I will make some with blue lights when I get some, and I will regulate the pulse length too.
 I have been wanting to do this experiment for a while too, and I guess 'now's the time!'
Because how cool is this to have the plant making the electricity that is feeding it.
In the video panic in the cabbage patch at the end it shows how the plants could be connected to regulators to turn on water spigots and regulate light and heat, so I betcha this can happen automatically.
Oh this is way fun!

thanks,

jeanna
the cabbage patch video is an old tech video from russia in the 50's. It is amazing. Thanks to harpbloke for it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy9eMT8ki94

jeanna

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #115 on: April 05, 2010, 04:33:51 AM »
I just changed the big plant battery#1 joule thief circuit.

It is now more specific to what I am doing.

Since it already had 2 secondaries, but one was weaker and eventually went off, I removed that light and replaced it with a RED led which I have turned so it faces one of the leaves.
I also removed the basic jt light.
This was an early circuit and that basic jt light went off when I made the secondary but I never removed it from the circuit.

So, it is still running since I added some dolomite to the soil on Apr 2.
This is a total of 9 days straight except for a 5 hour break on the 6th day.
The wires still look fresh and clean.
(This is very different from how crusty and gross the mag wire that was in the control battery looked after 20 hours.)

Did I mention I am using a 1F 5.5v memory cap between the leads?
This really helps with such low amperage.

thank you,

jeanna

Pardon

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #116 on: April 05, 2010, 05:54:05 AM »
i was researching iron and copper wire at my local truevalue/ ace hardware store and this is what i found

Slug-ging It Out - How the Win the Slug Battle
Copper wire is the secret weapon

Copper wire can save your outdoor potted plants from hungry slugs. To keep them away, simply wrap thin copper wire once around your pot. To secure the wire, just twist the ends tight with pliers.
What's the trick? Copper wire emits just enough electrical zap to turn slugs away unharmed! Also, trim your deck and patio chairs and the slugs will stay away from you, too.

 

Pardon

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #117 on: April 05, 2010, 06:14:08 AM »
i went to harbor freight tools for a new meter. their only 2.99 so when i blow them it don't bother me any. i looked in the camping section/row and found magnesium fire starters for 2.99 but they were on sale for 1.99, that's the best deal i have found any where..

some time back last summer i went to a local art supply shop. i picked up the largest graphite rod they stocked. it's like 1/2 inch diameter by 4 1/2 inches long for under $5.00

i made a new eer using the graphite rod and a fire starter. it puts out 1.31 volts and 3.10 mamps

Pirate88179

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #118 on: April 05, 2010, 06:36:19 AM »
i went to harbor freight tools for a new meter. their only 2.99 so when i blow them it don't bother me any. i looked in the camping section/row and found magnesium fire starters for 2.99 but they were on sale for 1.99, that's the best deal i have found any where..

some time back last summer i went to a local art supply shop. i picked up the largest graphite rod they stocked. it's like 1/2 inch diameter by 4 1/2 inches long for under $5.00



i made a new eer using the graphite rod and a fire starter. it puts out 1.31 volts and 3.10 mamps

I saw those fire starters at HF too, that is the best price I have ever seen as well.  At walmart they are usually closer to $5 ea.

I'll bet you mA's and volts go up a bit after a while.  If you get your alignments set up right, that will help as well.  You can probably run a JT from it now though I would think.

On your meters, it is usually the fuse that blows on the amps section and they can be easily replaced.  My cheapest meters I paid like $8 ea. for so that is a great price too.  I love HF!  I could live in that store.

Bill

jeanna

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Re: EER Joule Thief using an earth battery to start a joule thief.
« Reply #119 on: April 05, 2010, 07:40:46 PM »

I just wanted to report that the mag ribbon in the small pot has broken off at the soil.This is where it broke on Dennis' set up too.

(The bigger one #1 is still fine with its 2 colors of lights.)

I made this smaller arrangement #2, to get closer to the limits, and I will take it all down today and take pics which I will post if warranted.
1- One of the limits was to make one with only a very small amount of wire to learn how much wire is needed for how many mA.
2- One limit was to make one which had a plant but no added microbes
3- One of the limits was to make a battery with no plant to see what just the mass of soil moisture and electrodes would do if anything more than the control which has no soil and no plant.

This one that has the broken ribbon was supposed to be with no plant.
I relented and added a single leaf that had a small root.
So, it is not as scientific as it was going to be, but it did go for a week and now, I can make one with no plant to compare.

I have another idea to make a solder joint with some plastic insulated copper wire which is part of the jtc, and hot glue and submerge the joint under the soil so there is no place where the air can get to the magnesium.
----------------------

@Dennis, did you ever find a way to save the magnesium ribbon?

@lasersaber, I am curious about the condition of your magnesium ribbon. How is it?

@Shannon=== You are the star here. How are all those planted pots doing?
Your times are really great.
Please keep posting as time goes by.

thank you,

jeanna