The intent of this instructable is to provide ideas for experimenting with battery chemistry in general, and to summarize my experience producing a replica of what is often referred to as the Baghdad Battery. In my version of a replica I argue the artifacts have been misinterpreted in replicas previously built by other investigators. The replica I've created yields not only a better performing cell (capable of 5x the capacity), but one that is rechargeable.
This is not a great cell, and our cars and homes will likely never employ the design, but it is curious that ~2000 years ago people may have been experimenting with electricity. What they were using this electricity for is subject to as much speculation as the actual construction of the "battery" (Perhaps it was not a battery, that is for you to decide).
To keep the interest of the reader and focus on the construction aspects of the replica I will try not to write too much about the history and interpretation by others of the artifacts. Several of the sources listed in Step 10 have already done a wonderful job discussing these details.
A few notes:
>Several of the listed artifact photos were found on Wikipedia or widely used on the web, so I am assuming there are no copyright infringements.
>Since this is my first instructable, and it has been a while since I've had to explain anything to someone through writing, I welcome all criticism and suggestions for improvement.
>I would like to reference photos and figures inline with the text since I presume it would be easier for the reader to follow, but I am unsure if there is a way to do this through the instructable editor interface and wiki markup (?) - so for now I am just listing relevant images at the bottom of a step. Also, I'm unsure how to apply subscripts in the editor to write chemical formulas, I'd like to include the half cell reactions - otherwise I can take a screenshot and post it as an image.
This is not a great cell, and our cars and homes will likely never employ the design, but it is curious that ~2000 years ago people may have been experimenting with electricity. What they were using this electricity for is subject to as much speculation as the actual construction of the "battery" (Perhaps it was not a battery, that is for you to decide).
To keep the interest of the reader and focus on the construction aspects of the replica I will try not to write too much about the history and interpretation by others of the artifacts. Several of the sources listed in Step 10 have already done a wonderful job discussing these details.
A few notes:
>Several of the listed artifact photos were found on Wikipedia or widely used on the web, so I am assuming there are no copyright infringements.
>Since this is my first instructable, and it has been a while since I've had to explain anything to someone through writing, I welcome all criticism and suggestions for improvement.
>I would like to reference photos and figures inline with the text since I presume it would be easier for the reader to follow, but I am unsure if there is a way to do this through the instructable editor interface and wiki markup (?) - so for now I am just listing relevant images at the bottom of a step. Also, I'm unsure how to apply subscripts in the editor to write chemical formulas, I'd like to include the half cell reactions - otherwise I can take a screenshot and post it as an image.
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Signing UpStep 1: Construction Overview an Materials
Based on an assimilation of the various sources listed in step 10 and several trials exercising possible permutations, the cell I settled on as being most likely is a Cu|Fe3O4 electrode pair immersed in KOH 20% that operates as a rechargeable battery - not a single use battery in which the electrodes are disabled by the reaction, as seen with an acid electrolyte. I think urine is just as likely to be the electrolyte, but I have some health problems and a diet that trends toward an acidic urine, so I was unable to test this. Plus my wife would likely take issue with urine sweating out of a porous jar on our kitchen table. Now that I think about it, she wasn't thrilled about the KOH either.
I did not create a true replica, since I could not find a porous jar with the correct geometry. However, jar geometry should not have much effect on the battery performance. Also, a clear vessel - such as the mason jar I used - is helpful for observing the chemistry. If you want a replica that is similar in form to the artifacts, use an unglazed jar with the geometry seen in the photos, and substitute asphalt for the rubber tape I used as a sealant.
Nothing is precise here, so feel free to substitute similar materials. For example, I used bundles of nails before I could find a large iron nail. Just be careful what you use is uncoated iron, many iron objects in the hardware store will be coated with a polymer or zinc (galvanized). Regardless of where you find the metals, ensure your copper and iron have the oxidation layers cleaned off - I used Al2O3 abrasive to clean the copper, and HCL acid for the iron.
Materials:
I did not create a true replica, since I could not find a porous jar with the correct geometry. However, jar geometry should not have much effect on the battery performance. Also, a clear vessel - such as the mason jar I used - is helpful for observing the chemistry. If you want a replica that is similar in form to the artifacts, use an unglazed jar with the geometry seen in the photos, and substitute asphalt for the rubber tape I used as a sealant.
Nothing is precise here, so feel free to substitute similar materials. For example, I used bundles of nails before I could find a large iron nail. Just be careful what you use is uncoated iron, many iron objects in the hardware store will be coated with a polymer or zinc (galvanized). Regardless of where you find the metals, ensure your copper and iron have the oxidation layers cleaned off - I used Al2O3 abrasive to clean the copper, and HCL acid for the iron.
Materials:
- sheet of copper, it can be found in craft stores -copper pipe found in the hardware store will work too, but the slit seen in the side of the copper tube (in photos) does improve performance, so try to emulate this construction detail (use a saw or mill)
- piece of iron with an Fe3O4 coating - I used a large iron nail and created my own Fe3O4 coating, see step 2 for details on creating Fe3O4
- mason jar or similar non reactive container for holding the electrolyte and electrodes - if you have a porous clay jar, try this instead
- stranded and solid wire
- rubber stopper
- rubber mastic tape, or if more adventurous, try asphalt
- rubber gloves
- an alkaline electrolyte - Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), also known as Potash, or an alkaline urine should work. Note: Be careful with retailers of KOH, since there is some paranoia of KOH in certain areas. My first attempt at purchase was a bad experience and waste of time. I believe the first company I contacted was under investigation for supplying methamphetamine manufacture - I'm not quite sure who the owner thought I was. Anyway, stay away from any companies that rhyme with "Spinner Chemical" and are based in Michigan. I won't advertise the company I did have success with, but if you can read the label in one of the photos, my experience was completely painless with this company.
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As I understood from this Fe2O3 can easily be boiled to convert it to Fe3O4? I have a batch of 50g of Fe2O3 and I would like to make Fe3O4 so I just put it in a pan and boil it? Should the water be destiled or normal tap water?
Also, THANK you Ian W for answering questions, and providing this resource.
Frivolity aside, I was wondering if the original item used bog or meteoritic iron for the iron electrode and whether said slightly different compositions would affect things like oxide formation, etc.
I am a student researching this battery, but my teacher says that I must have some good book sources for this rather implausible battery. I have seen the online book you mentioned and one other book (The Puzzle of Ancient Man) that mention the battery, but could you possibly give me another book?
Thanks,
Weslendottir
P.S.
If this is a public post, anyone who has the info I requested, please feel free to answer.
Here is where I bought the book:
The Parthian Battery
Electric Current 2,000 Years Ago?
The History of Surface Finishing
Von Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. habil. Nasser Kanani.
Erste Auflage 2004.
95 Seiten in englischer Sprache.
411Leon
The latter is likely to be hard to find outside of a university research (or engineering department) library. If you are in the U.S., then once you locate (e.g., using online catalogs) a nearby library which does have it, your own local librarian can request it through the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) program. Outside of the U.S. (Iceland?), I don't know whether similar programs exist.
I built 5 of these jars.
Another book is 'The Parthied Battery' from a German publisher. I have one.
I like what strmrnnr says about the blood purifier. I had planned to look at the possibility of using this battery for a sort of chromatogragh using paper and having this battery place a voltage across the wet paper causing ions to migrate to either side.
Anyone know about the Avestrya battery from 5000 years ago? At one time I had some references to hand, and planned to look at the Archives at the University of Iowa where there should be some original documents relating to this. I understand the temple of Avestrya (spelling?) was in existence from 5000 years ago into modern times and may still exist. They wrote on palm leaves that were preserved. It had two bowls with a strip of metal between.
I can bet that "INTERESTING EVENTS" WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE !
After reading an article on the B battery, it made me wonder if it was perhaps not a battery, but a torch or lantern. Would that be possible?
Or purity if you prefer.
A ratio of 98% POH would be very strong and a percentage of 2% would be considered weak, yet still dangerous enough, it would just take longer to do any damage.
As for voltage I would assume it would be somewhere in the range of 0.8-1.7V.
Don't quote me on that though, that's just a guess. :-)
I expect the author will get back to us shortly. I hope so anyways.
I may be beating a dead horse as I have not made much effort to read, well, any of the comments. That being said, what is the likelyhood that in 2000 years, nobody managed to place 1 each ferrous and non-ferrous metal into a jar of wine which had returned to mother. (I.E. a pretty strong Acetic acid.) I'm sure, considering they were made in large jars it was a pretty stout jolt.
Pure speculation.
He found out about it and went public. his videos on YouTube are very interesting. "Cure for Aids and HIV." He gives all the plans for his patents also if you can find them. He sold nothing - gave it all for free to help the sick that had brains enough to listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkCHrV6cCfw
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8088835/The-Bob-Beck-Protocol-Electrotherapy
I have a persoal experience that happened when I started to use an electronic message unit. This was 15 years ago. I thought it was a miricle, then I found this material last Fall. I was a little bummed at that, but I am a believer. The miricle was a nice thought though - miss that.