To make a home battery, you just need two different metals, some lead wires, and a conductive material. Many items in your home can be used as conductive materials to make batteries, such as salt water, limes, or even dirt.
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Method 1 of 4: Making a Soda Powered Battery
Step 1. Gather the ingredients
This battery requires an unopened soda can (any type), one plastic cup (175-230 grams), and 1 1.9 cm wide copper strip that is slightly longer than the height of the cup. In addition, you'll also need scissors, a voltage meter, and two electrical lead wires with alligator clips at both ends.
- If you don't have all the ingredients at home, buy them at a hardware store.
- You can replace the copper strip with several pieces of copper wire that are joined or braided to make the width just right.
Step 2. Fill plastic cup with soda
It should be noted that the cup does not have to be plastic, the important thing is that it is not metal. Styrofoam and paper cups can also be used.
Step 3. Make sure the soda can is completely empty
Discard (or drink) any soda that is still in the can. Turn it over in the sink and shake it around to get all the soda out of the can.
Step 4. Cut the aluminum strip from the soda can
Cut an aluminum strip 1.9 cm wide from the side of the soda can. Make sure the length exceeds the height of the plastic cup. If that's not possible, don't worry; just bend the strip and hang it over the rim of the cup so it's submerged in the liquid.
- Instead of cutting cans, buy aluminum strips at a hardware store.
- Do not use aluminum foil because it does not work effectively
Step 5. Sand the aluminum strip (optional)
You can skip this step if you buy aluminum from a hardware store. If the strip is cut from a soda can, you will need to sand the coating (paint, plastic, etc.) on both surfaces of the strip.
Step 6. Place the strip into the solution
Make sure the strips don't touch each other. Place the strips opposite each other. Do not place next to each other or stack each other in the cup
- Ideally, you should cut the strips so they are just above the soda, and slightly past the rim of the cup.
- If the strip doesn't extend past the rim of the cup, bend the strip so that it hangs over the rim of the cup.
Step 7. Attach the lead wire to the metal strip
Attach one lead wire to a metal strip by opening the alligator clip and closing on the strip. Then, attach another lead wire to another metal strip, also using alligator clips.
- Be careful not to let the alligator clips touch the water.
- The color of the cable does not have to match the strip to be connected.
Step 8. Test the battery
Follow your voltage meter's instruction manual and connect the lead wires from each metal strip to the voltage meter. This battery should be volt.
Method 2 of 4: Making a Salt Water Powered Battery
Step 1. Gather the ingredients
You will need 1 plastic cup (175-230 grams), 2 metal strips 1.9 cm wide and taller than the cup, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of salt. Each strip should be a different material, but you can choose the type: zinc, aluminum, and copper are the most popular choices. In addition, you will need scissors, a voltage meter, and 2 lead wires with alligator clips on both ends.
- The variation in this recipe consists of 1 teaspoon (4.93 ml) of salt, 1 teaspoon (4.93 ml) of vinegar, and a few drops of bleach mixed in water instead of 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of salt. If you choose this variation, be careful because bleach is a dangerous chemical
- Metal strips, lead lead, and voltage meters can be purchased at hardware stores. You can also find lead wires at electronics stores.
Step 2. Fill cup with water
It should be noted that the cup does not have to be plastic. Most importantly it is not made of metal. Styrofoam and paper cups can also be used.
Step 3. Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of salt to the water and stir until dissolved
This process is the same as if you were using vinegar or bleach.
Step 4. Place two metal strips into the cup
Make sure the strips touch the brine and extend past the rim of the cup. If the strip is too short, bend it so that it hangs over the rim of the cup and is immersed in the solution.
Step 5. Attach the lead wires to the metal strips
Attach one lead wire to a metal strip using alligator clips. Then, attach a different lead wire to another metal strip, also using alligator clips.
- Be careful not to let the alligator clips touch the water.
- The color of the cable does not have to match the strip to be connected.
Step 6. Test your battery
Follow the voltage meter manual's instructions to connect the lead wires from each metal strip to the voltage meter. This battery should be around volt.
Method 3 of 4: Making a 14 Cell Water Powered Battery
Step 1. Gather the ingredients
You'll need some copper wires, 13-15 metal screws, an ice cube tray, and water. Each screw will be wired, except for the one that serves as the negative terminal (which will be attached to a lead wire when the battery is complete).
- The number of screws used depends on the number of ice cubes in the tray. In this example, the bin consists of 14 containers.
- You can use any type of screw metal, as long as it's not copper. Try using zinc-coated (galvanized) or aluminum screws 2.5 cm long.
Step 2. Wrap the copper wire around the 14-15 screws
Wrap a piece of copper wire twice just under the heads of each screw. After that, use your fingers to bend the cable into a hook. This hook will be attached to the screw on the edge of the ice cube tray.
You can cut the copper wire beforehand so that it's just the right length to wrap around each screw (leave a little bit for the hooks), or use a long wire and cut it when you've finished wrapping it around each screw
Step 3. Attach one screw to each ice cube tray container
Each ice cube pit will serve as a single cell in your battery. Install one screw on each edge of the cell. Make sure that only one screw is installed in each cell.
Step 4. Attach the positive and negative terminals to each end of the tray
At each end of the tray, hook a piece of copper wire to the outer edge of one of the cells. At the same end of the tray, place the screw in the cell next to the cell where the copper wires are placed. Make sure the screw is above the lip of the tray, as the copper wire will be attached later.
Step 5. Fill each cell with water
Make sure the cells are full enough so that the copper wire hooks and screws touch the water.
Step 6. Attach the lead wires to the positive and negative terminals
Attach one lead wire to the copper wire at the terminal using alligator clips. Then, attach another lead wire to the screw terminal, also using the alligator clip.
- Be careful not to let the alligator clips touch the water.
- The color of the cable does not have to match the strip to be connected.
Step 7. Test your battery
attach both ends of the lead wire to the voltage meter. The 14 cell battery you are making should be 9 volts.
Step 8. Increase the voltage
You can increase battery voltage by changing the conductive solution to salt water, vinegar, bleach, or lime juice, or using more copper.
Method 4 of 4: Making a Hand Powered Battery
Step 1. Gather the ingredients
You only need one copper plate and one palm-sized aluminum plate to make this battery. You'll also need two lead wires with alligator clips on both ends, as well as a voltage meter.
You can buy metal plates, wires, and voltage meters at hardware stores
Step 2. Place the aluminum and copper plates on a piece of wood
If you don't have a piece of wood, use something else with a non-metallic surface, such as plastic.
Step 3. Connect the plate to the voltage meter
Use alligator clips and connect the copper sheet to one end of the voltage meter. Then, connect the aluminum sheet to the other end of the voltage meter.
If you're not sure how to connect items to your voltage meter, check the instructions in the manual
Step 4. Place one hand on each plate
. When the hand is placed, the sweat on the hand should react with the metal plate so that the voltage meter reacts as well.
- If the voltage meter doesn't react, reverse your connection: attach the copper plate to the terminal previously connected to the aluminum plate, and vice versa.
- If you're still having trouble getting a reaction from the voltage meter, check the connections and cable connections. If everything is working fine, it is likely that the plate has oxidized. To remove oxidation, clean the platen with a pencil eraser or steel wool.
Tips
- To strengthen a soda or salt water battery, fill several plastic cups with metal strips/liquid solution. Next, connect the metal strip on each cup with the strip of the opposite sex on the cup next to it using lead clips. For example, a copper strip must be connected to an aluminum strip.
- Three salt water or soda batteries should be enough to power a simple device, such as an LCD clock.
- To power the household battery to the electronic device, connect the lead wire to the metal strip inside the battery compartment of your electronic device. If the alligator clip doesn't work to connect the battery to the device, you'll need a cable without a clip at the end. If you're unsure what to wear, ask an employee at a hardware or electronics store.
- For reference, standard AAA batteries have a voltage of 1.1 to 1.23 volts. Standard AA batteries have a voltage between 1.1 to 3.6 volts.
- For aluminum + copper + liquid batteries, the lifespan should be quite long (sometimes up to several years), but if you need to renew the fluid and gently sand the copper strips every three months (or less, if the copper is heavily corroded).
