– Clip 1 Introduction – Clip 2 Course Description – Clip 3 Test Parameters – Clip 4 Test Equipment – Clip 5 Overview – Clip 6 Battery test – Clip 7 Battery assembly and test – Clip 8 Series battery load test – Clip 9 Summary – Clip 10 End of part 4
Clip 1
Clip 1
We increase the surface area of the battery by using larger scaffolding tubes and change the filling material components. We connect all batteries in series and drive a load
Clip 2
Clip2
Earth Battery Part 4
Increasing the surface area
– Create a series of cells to drive a load
Clip 3
Clip 3
Test Parameters
1. Galvanised Steel tube
2. Graphite or Carbon rod
3. Terracotta clay
4. Graphite Powder
5. Wax
6. Zinc Sheet
Clip 4
Clip 4
Test Equipment
Tools– Keysight / Agilent, Bench Top DMM 34450A
– Evaluation LED driver board
– Signal generator
– Earth Battery bank
Clip 5
Clip 5
Overview
We use a scaffolding steel tube which is galvanised on both sides. This is our cathode with a layer of zinc. As anode we use a graphite or carbon rod. We increase the surface area by using larger tubes, 8 cm. In another tube I use a rolled up sheet of Zinc, wrapped in paper on both side and connected with a brass screw to the outside tube. The Mixture is one part or volume clay, 2 parts charcoal powder and one part of graphite powder.
Clip 6
Clip 6
Here are the different constructed batteries.
Clip 7
Clip 7
Clip 8
Clip 8
Clip 9
Clip 9
Summary
Building an earth battery in a traditional form factor is very challenging (tube).
Adding different materials and increasing the surface area did in my example actually
not perform better than the first design with a small scaffolding tube. Clay on its own,
paired with graphite seems to perform better. In series connected all batteries deliver
in the evening up to 4.7 Volt. When measured in the morning I reach almost 5 Volt.
A signal generator with high impedance output to the transistor was used to provide
the frequency for the evaluation board. The self-trigger mechanism is draining too much
power and it does not work. Even under best condition the voltage of the battery array
is dropping voltage down to 0.5 Volt. It recovers fine to the original voltage after 2 minutes.
For our test on the Nathan Stubbelfield I will try first more persistent power cells as in the
12 Volt cells. Once I get a good result I can work with, I will revisit the battery concept
to replace the 12 Volt battery.
Clip 10
Clip 10
End of Part 4