1 Volt Cell From 2 Pennies and Foil
Intro: 1 Volt Cell From 2 Pennies and Foil
In experimenting with making my own batteries from lemon juice, I became intrigued by the design mentioned here:
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-micro-Lemon-Battery-reusable-1-hour-of-led-l/step16/Other-designs8-The-CPA-lemon-battery/
The design uses dish soap, copper foil, and aluminum foil. I readily had these items on hand, so I created several designs to eventually settle on the one described here.
In this instructable, I use 2 pennies, a paper towel, three strips of foil, and duct tape to create a relatively clean package.
I am trying various joule thief designs with this battery, but don't think it can source enough current for the inductor to generate the 3 volts required for LEDs.
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-micro-Lemon-Battery-reusable-1-hour-of-led-l/step16/Other-designs8-The-CPA-lemon-battery/
The design uses dish soap, copper foil, and aluminum foil. I readily had these items on hand, so I created several designs to eventually settle on the one described here.
In this instructable, I use 2 pennies, a paper towel, three strips of foil, and duct tape to create a relatively clean package.
I am trying various joule thief designs with this battery, but don't think it can source enough current for the inductor to generate the 3 volts required for LEDs.
STEP 1: Gather Ingredients
To build a 1V cell from pennies and foil, you will need:
Duct tape
3 Strips of Aluminum Foil (Fold it over 2 or 3 times to make sturdy strips the width of a penny)
2 Pennies from 1981 or before (these 95% copper, vs a thin coating)
1 Paper Towel
Dish Soap
Scissors
More about copper content of pennies:
http://coins.about.com/od/uscoins/f/copper_to_zinc.htm
STEP 2: Build the First Layer
Moisten some squares of paper towel with dish soap. The squares should be larger than the penny, but smaller than the width of the duct tape.
This battery is 2 layers wired in series. This means we will have 2 distinct layers separated by duct tape.
First Layer:
To begin, lay duct tape on the table and place the negative lead (made of foil) directly on the tape. Let it stick out towards you.
Now add dish soap moistened towel, penny, and a strip of foil sticking out opposite the negative lead to connect the two layers.
Seal the first layer with tape and fold the foil over to form the base of the second layer.
This battery is 2 layers wired in series. This means we will have 2 distinct layers separated by duct tape.
First Layer:
To begin, lay duct tape on the table and place the negative lead (made of foil) directly on the tape. Let it stick out towards you.
Now add dish soap moistened towel, penny, and a strip of foil sticking out opposite the negative lead to connect the two layers.
Seal the first layer with tape and fold the foil over to form the base of the second layer.
STEP 3: Build the Second Layer
Second Layer:
Building on the foil from the sealed first layer, add a dish sop moistened towel square. Now add another penny
Add a final strip of foil to act as your positive lead. This should face you like the negative lead.
Seal the second layer with tape and fold the foil over to make the positive lead lay flat against the tape.
Building on the foil from the sealed first layer, add a dish sop moistened towel square. Now add another penny
Add a final strip of foil to act as your positive lead. This should face you like the negative lead.
Seal the second layer with tape and fold the foil over to make the positive lead lay flat against the tape.
STEP 4: Measure Your Voltage
Use a multimeter to measure your voltage. You'll need 2 or 3 volts to power most LEDs; you can wire two or three of these in series to drive LEDs.
I am trying various joule thief designs with this battery, but don't think it can source enough current for the inductor to generate the 3 volts required for LEDs.
I am trying various joule thief designs with this battery, but don't think it can source enough current for the inductor to generate the 3 volts required for LEDs.
6 Comments
jbreit01 9 years ago
what if you made 3 in tangent. would that power an led light?
MaJiG 8 years ago
I don't think so. It would take approximately five layers to get a voltage >2.2V, and the battery would run out of power very quickly. There is *very* little power in this battery.
If you just have to try to (briefly) light an LED, make the five layerbattery that I suggested but then make ninety-nine more to put them all in parallel.
That's my tuppence...
jbreit01 9 years ago
what if you made 3 in tangent. would that power an led light?
robot1398 12 years ago
rabb72994 12 years ago
dreamexplorer 13 years ago