Explore (/tag/typeid/)

(/)
(/)

Create (/about/submit.jsp)

Contests
let's make (/contest/)

You (/you/)
Community (/community/)

share what you make >

(/editInstructable/)

LithiumBattery
Materials
15yearsfocusonlithium
batterysupplyfullof
lab&productmaterial

AboutThisInstructable
105,550views

Posted:
Apr18,2009

54favorites

License:
None(All
Rights
Reserved)

JimJong
(/member/JimJong/)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FLX/LEB2/FT7PUEIA/FLXLEB2FT7PUEIA.LARGE.jpg)

Follow

(/member/JimJong/)
Bio: Hello!
Tags:
water(/tag/typeid/categorytechnology/keyword
water/)
acid(/tag/typeid/categorytechnology/keywordacid/)
electrolyte(/tag/typeid/categorytechnology/keyword
electrolyte/)
battery(/tag/typeid/categorytechnology/keyword
battery/)
cell(/tag/typeid/categorytechnology/keywordcell/)
volt(/tag/typeid/categorytechnology/keywordvolt/)

Addinstructableto:
Group

Related
simpleelectrolyticcell
made
withcitrusfruits

(/id/simpleelectrolytic
cellmadewithcitrus
fruits/)
AluminiumSulfateLead
AcidBatteryConversion
(/id/AluminiumSulfate
LeadAcidBattery/)
byspeakerbox

Buildinga"Baghdad
Battery"(/id/Buildinga
quotBaghdad
Batteryquot/)
byIanW(/member/IanW/)
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FU9/6RQ8/FT7PUEIC/FU96RQ8FT7PUEIC.LARGE.jpg)

DIYBattery:PoweranLED
FlashlightwithPocket
Change!(/id/Poweran
LEDFlashlightwith
PocketChange/)
LightElectricVehicle:
OnePassenger@15mph,
210#CurbWeight
(/id/LightElectricVehicle
OnePassenger14mph
SeeMore(/tag/typeid/?q=)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/F6F/ADE7/FT7PUEID/F6FADE7FT7PUEID.LARGE.jpg)

InthisInstructableIwillexplainhowtomakeapowerfulbatterythatrunsonrain
water!
Thisbatteryisenvironmentallyfriendlybecauseitcanrunonrainwater.Itstill
needsthemetals.DistilledwaterwillNOTwork,ithastobeconductive.
Wheneveritrunsoutofpoweryoujusthavetodrainthewaterandrefillit.If
morepowerisneeded,youcanaddalittlebitofCloroxBleach.Italsoworks
withotherelectrolytes,likelemonjuice,vinegar,saltwater,orbakingsoda.
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FIM/ZCAB/FT7PUEIB/FIMZCABFT7PUEIB.LARGE.jpg)

Thisismyfirstinstructablesoiamwelcometoanycriticismorsuggestions.
Disclaimer:Alotofthemethodsofcutting,drilling,hammering,pummeling,
incinerating,andsawingthatIdescribearedangerousandIstronglysuggest
youshouldgoaboutallofthecutting,drilling,hammering,pummeling,
incinerating,andsawinginyourownmannerthatissaferthanmine.Itakeno
responsibiltyfortheactionsyoutakeconcerningthisinstructable.Havefun!=).
Bytheway,thisbatterywillonlyproduceabout1voltbutwillgetalotofcurrent.
Formorevoltage,hooktogetheralotinacircuit.
PS:Justsoyouknow,I'monly12.
PPS:Foryouinstructablesadmins,mydadmadetheaccount.

Step1:Materials

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FXO/FIVV/FT7PQIH8/FXOFIVVFT7PQIH8.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FLM/XJRS/FT7PQIH7/FLMXJRSFT7PQIH7.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FEU/LFFA/FT7PQIGX/FEULFFAFT7PQIGX.LARGE.jpg)

Tomakethebatteryyouwillneedsomestuff(obviously).
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FCF/D581/FT7PQIH5/FCFD581FT7PQIH5.LARGE.jpg)
2feetof3/4"pvcpipe
2feetof1/2"copperpipe
2feetof7/16"zincplatedthreadedrod
23/4"pvcendcaps
(http://cdn.instructables.com/F6O/M1BT/FT7PQIGW/F6OM1BTFT7PQIGW.LARGE.jpg)
13/4"pvccoupler
13/4"pvcthreadedendcap
1whatlookslikea3/4"teewitha1/2"threadedmiddlethingie
11/2"copperendcap
dremel
sharpie
measuringtape
hacksaw (http://cdn.instructables.com/F5O/W8E3/FTNHE97S/F5OW8E3FTNHE97S.LARGE.jpg)
electricaltape
pvcglue
pliers
multimeter(optional)

Step2:Gettingyourmaterialsready...

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FOH/74ER/FT7PUEIF/FOH74ERFT7PUEIF.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FV3/9124/FTK89PCQ/FV39124FTK89PCQ.LARGE.jpg)

Howtomakeapowerfulwaterbattery byJimJong(/member/JimJong/)
Download(/id/Howtomakeapowerfulwaterbattery/?download=pdf)

(/id/Howtomakeapowerfulwaterbattery/)
Collection

(http://cdn.instructables.com/F0Z/FFSD/FTNHE97N/F0ZFFSDFTNHE97N.LARGE.jpg)

IMadeit!

Favorite

4Steps
Share

OK,sofirstoffyou'regoingtohavetocutyour2'pvcpipeinhalf.Youalsoneed
tocut31/2"offofoneofthehalves.Thisissoyoucanattachthetee.Next,you
needtowraptheveryedgeofyourzincrodinenoughelectricaltapetofit
snuglyinthecopperpipe.Alsowrapit11/2"awayfromtheotheredgewiththe
sameamount.Wrapthemiddletoo.Nowforthecopperpipe,starting3"away
fromtheedgeyouhavetocutalotofholesforwatertobeabletogetin.Idid
themevenlyspacedbutyoucandoitwhateverwayyouwantto.Forthelast
partyouneedtotakeoneofyourendcapsanddrillacopperpipesizedholein
it.Youalsotakeyourotherendcapanddrillazincrodsizedholeinit.Also
solderthe1/2"endcapontothecopperpipeendwithoutholes.
(http://cdn.instructables.com/F5X/RZ5F/FTK89QHM/F5XRZ5FFTK89QHM.LARGE.jpg)

Step3:Assemblingit...

(http://cdn.instructables.com/F2X/TZIX/FTM72LBD/F2XTZIXFTM72LBD.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FT4/1RN4/FTK89PCR/FT41RN4FTK89PCR.LARGE.jpg)

Okay,sonowyouhavetoslipthezincrodthroughthecorrespondingendcap.
Onceyouhavethatdonethenslipthecopperpipethroughthecorresponding
endcap.Finally,pvcgluethezincrodendcapontothepvcpipe,sidedoesn't
matter.Alsogluethecopperpipeendcaptotheotherside.MAKESUREYOU
SLIDETHECOPPERPIPEOVERTHEZINCRODASYOUDOIT.

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FB1/0517/FTM72LBC/FB10517FTM72LBC.LARGE.jpg)

Step4:Finish....

(http://cdn.instructables.com/F5X/RZ5F/FTK89QHM/F5XRZ5FFTK89QHM.LARGE.jpg)

Sonowthatyouaredoneyouhavetowaterproofitforitnottoleak.Justapply
siliconesealanttothezincrodjointandcopperpipejoint.Waitforittodryand
youaredone!

Wehaveabenicecommentpolicy.
Pleasebepositiveandconstructive.

IMadeit!

140of
85

AddImages

MakeComment

Next(http://www.instructables.com/id/Howtomakeapowerfulwaterbattery/?
&sort=ACTIVE&limit=40&offset=40#DISCUSS)

Om_vaghela(/member/Om_vaghela/)

6monthsago

Reply(CZ1SBZJHUYLSF3G)

fromwhereyougetthiscopperandzinkrod?
(/member/Om_vaghela/)
flag

goodriddance1(/member/goodriddance1/)
8monthsago

Iagreereallyneat!Afterreadingall
(/member/goodriddance1/)
thecomments,Ihavetowonderwhy
anybodywouldneedtorainallovera
12yearold'sparadebybeingaknow

Reply(CCQ6RBDHSICYVOF)

itall.Geez,Ihopeyouhavehada
chancetogetoveryourselfinthelast
fouryears.
flag

palombo5050(/member/palombo5050/)

1yearago

Reply(CZ9KM56HGH6XBXA)

Reallyneat
(/member/palombo5050/)

flag

graml(/member/graml/)

1yearago

Reply(CDFMRIEHD4VDFEF)

itisenvironmentallyeverythingisenvironmentallybecauseitallcamefrom
thereearthatsomepointanditsjustgoingbacktotheearthsoifyouthink
(/member/graml/)
aboutitthereisnothingushumanscandothatunnaturalbecauseofthefact
thatyoucan'tmakesomethingfromnothing
flag

graml(/member/graml/) graml

1yearago

Reply(CRIXQFQHD4VDFER)

imean>>>itisenvironmentallyfriendlyeverythingisenvironmentally
friendlybecauseitallcamefromthereearthatsomepointanditsjust
(/member/graml/)
goingbacktotheearthsoifyouthinkaboutitthereisnothingus
humanscandothatunnaturalbecauseofthefactthatyoucan'tmake
somethingfromnothing
flag

woogwan17(/member/woogwan17/)

1yearago

Reply(CWIW1CQHCB8KT8V)

Goddamhowdoimakeitidontunderstandbuttahnksfortelling
(/member/woogwan17/)

swg(/member/swg/)

flag

2yearsago

Reply(CRY1FPMH9G18M6Q)

Isthereanyreplacementforrainwater?
(/member/swg/)

flag

12203madman(/member/12203madman/)

2yearsago

Reply(C0QLOYHH8LVX5FU)

imgoingtotrytomakeonesmaller.
(/member/12203madman/)

12203madman(/member/12203madman/)

flag

2yearsago

Reply(CLE1SD5H8LVX5FG)

imonly10
(/member/12203madman/)

lemonie(/member/lemonie/)

flag

5yearsago

Reply(CMQ3C95FTNHECX3)

becauseitcanrunsolelyonrainwater.
No,itneedsthezinc.Whichhastobeminedasoreandrequiresalotof
(/member/lemonie/)
environmentallyunfriendlyenergytorefineintometal(iftheminingweren't
enoughforya...)
L
flag

Gilo(/member/Gilo/) lemonie

5yearsago

Reply(CJCVF2LFTM72Q6K)

iambeginningtowonderwhyyoucallyourself'lemonie.'btw,lemons
(/member/Gilo/)

alsocouldbemadetoputoutelectricity.also,thosepriuscarshada
lotofstuffminedfromsomewhere.checkoutthepcyouareusingright
nowlotsofminedstufftheretoo.ifyouareusingalaptop,ineednot
saymoreaboutthebatteriesinit.convincemeLemoniethatyouare
withoutsin.anybodyouttherewithoutsinwhocanthrowthefirst
batteryatthisfunbuild?
flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) Gilo

5yearsago

Reply(CFZJUIPFTM72WM3)

Thecommentwasonthefalseclaim"Thisbatteryisenvironmentally
friendlybecauseitcanrunsolelyonrainwater"I'mnotbothered
(/member/lemonie/)
abouttherestofit.L
flag

Gilo(/member/Gilo/) lemonie

5yearsago

Reply(CW5SF3YFTNHEK7Q)

Lemonie,Theinstructabledidn'thavetomakethatclaim.Ifyouknow
justabouttwocentsworthofthechemistryofproducingelectricity,it
(/member/Gilo/)
goeswithoutsayingthattherewillbeothercomponentsinthemix
besidesplainrainwater.SoIjusthopeyou'llhavefunandenjoythe
ideasharedtopeoplelikeus.
flag

ewookie(/member/ewookie/) Gilo
2yearsago

wow.everyoneseemstoagree
thatlemonieisrightexceptfor
(/member/ewookie/)
the12yearoldkidhewas
tryingtoeducate.yet,everyone
admonisheslemoniefortrying
toeducatethe12yearold
kid...insteadofadmonishingthe
12yearoldkidforarguingwith
someonethatobviouslyknows
moreaboutthesubject.

Reply(CN3AUX0H7UR7WAP)

thisishowtheworldgets
dumbereveryday.
flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) Gilo 5yearsago

Reply(CY79A8GFTNHEKEJ)

HiGilo
(/member/lemonie/)

It'snotenvironmentallyfriendly,itcan'trunsolelyonrainwater.
Perhapsyouseethestatementafunjoke?Thatbeingthecaseour
sensesofhumourmustdiffer,andthere'snotmuchfunforeitherofus
tobickeraboutit.
L
flag

Gilo(/member/Gilo/) lemonie

5yearsago

Reply(CX74HYOFTM731JO)

Youhavetakenthe'fun'wordoutofcontext.Letmerephraseit:take
theinstructionalasitispresentedanddontlectureeverybodyabout
(/member/Gilo/)
theevilsofminingstuffoutoftheearth.Everybodyknowsthat.Taking
youonyourpoint,letmeaskyou:Areusingusinganythingnowthat
wasn'tmined?Ifyoucansayyes,Ibowtoyou.andmylipsshallbe
shutforeveronthisissue.Itisanicetoday.Ihopeyouareenjoyingit.
flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) Gilo

5yearsago

Reply(C4IMFKVFTM7353H)

Yestodayisnice,IprobablyshallenjoyitasIdrivetoworkinmy
recycledcardboardsportscarthatrunssolelyondewdropsand
(/member/lemonie/)
sunshine...L
flag

KIMBONGCHILL(/member/KIMBONGCHILL/) lemonie
Reply(CJKHA7XGCI8K7VJ)
4yearsago

whatiswrongwithyou?Soyou
getyourjolliesbyfinding
(/member/KIMBONGCHILL/)

instructablesthenpickingthem
apart,whileeveryoneelsewants
youtojustshutup.Nobodycares
ifyouarebotheredbythe
statement.Ireadthisinstructable
andheisn'tmakingoutrageous
claims.Alsoheistwelve.Every
oneshouldappreciatethiskidfor
doingscienceandsharinghis
experience.AndLemoniedidI
mentionthekidistwelve.Maybe
youshouldtrypickingon
someoneyourownage.What
kindofadultgoesaroundbeinga
criticofwhat12yearoldare
postingtothenet.Lemonieyou
havementalissuestodealwith.
flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) KIMBONGCHILL
4yearsago

What'swrongwithyou?Didyou
notnoticethedateonthis?
(/member/lemonie/)

Reply(C2TFELRGCI8PAPB)

(12shouldn'thavebeenhere
(http://www.instructables.com/tos.html))
Doyoupreferpeopletobe
praisedforbeingwrong,beingor
educated?
L
Myheadisinperfectworking
order,ifyourbongchillregimen
isn'tworkingforyoutrypills
instead.
flag

xerxesx20(/member/xerxesx20/) lemonie
5yearsago

Hahahaha.Classic.:)

Reply(CYPZTNUFTM73F3T)

(/member/xerxesx20/)

swilus(/member/swilus/) lemonie 3yearsago

flag

Reply(C56JCP6GHHILPQQ)

Ifitcan'tbegrownitmustbemined!!!!!!!!!
(/member/swilus/)

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) swilus 3yearsago

flag

Reply(CJC6NU0GHI9CJKQ)

Yes(oldcommenttoreplyto,didyoulookatmystuff
(/member/lemonie/)

(http://www.instructables.com/member/lemonie/)?)
L
flag

JimJong(/member/JimJong/)(author) lemonie
5yearsago

Actually,iftheelectrolyte
soltutionisdrainedintoa
(/member/JimJong/)
container,thedissolvedzinc
particlescanbeplatedonto
anothermetalsoha.

Reply(C0GAOVYFWYHV20I)

flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) JimJong
5yearsago

Howwouldyouplatethezinc
ontoanothermetal?(Orrecycle
(/member/lemonie/)
it)L

Reply(C3KO7IFFWYHV4TK)

flag

JimJong(/member/JimJong/)(author) lemonie
Reply(CON97AXFWYHVD5M)
5yearsago

Ithinkyouputamorereactive
(orless)metalintothewater
(/member/JimJong/)

anditgeetsreplacedbyitor
something.Heressomething
youcandotoproveit.Pour
somevinegarinabowlandadd
afewtbspofsalt.Thendrop6
or7penniesinit.wait30min
thentakethemout.nowdrop
anungalvanisedironnailinthe
solution.wait30minandthere
shouldbeacoatofcopperonit.
notmuchbutenoughtosee
thatitworks.
flag

scratchr(/member/scratchr/) JimJong
4yearsago

Thesebatteriesworkby
oxidation.thezincwantstogive
(/member/scratchr/)
ionstothecopper.Youcanonly
reverseitwithelectricity.

Reply(CM9LL6OGAPURV5I)

flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) JimJong
5yearsago

Reply(CXKHMITFWYHVIB8)

Morereactive,seethetablehere
(http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/redoxeqia/ecs.html).
(/member/lemonie/)
Butyoustillneedfreshmetalto
dothis,sothesameenergy/
environmentalissuesapply.
L

flag

JimJong(/member/JimJong/)(author) lemonie
5yearsago

butiftheplatedmetalis
removedfromthemorereactive
(/member/JimJong/)
oneyoucanusethemore

Reply(CNOB3EFFWYHVIG8)

reactiveoneoverandoveragen
flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) JimJong
5yearsago

Theenergycomesfromoxidation
ofmetal,whicheverwayyoudoit
(/member/lemonie/)
youstillneedmoremetal(of
somekind).Thisiswhypeople
developedrechargeablecells.L

Reply(C9ZF8TPFWYHVJ54)

flag

JimJong(/member/JimJong/)(author) lemonie
5yearsago

whywouldyouneedmore
metal?youstartwitharodof
(/member/JimJong/)
metalmorereactivethanzinc.
thebatteryandaseperate
container.whenthezincall
oxidisesitisreharvestedonto
therodandreinserted.itsthat
simple.ohandrechargablecells
needENERGYtocharge.and
letmeaskyouthis,Wheredid
thatenergycomefrom?most
likelyfossilfuels.Ithinkive
mademypoint.

Reply(C6XY1M0FWYHVJEM)

flag

DrCoolSanta(/member/DrCoolSanta/) JimJong
5yearsago

Theelectrolytethatyoucollect
containsZincinthedissolved
(/member/DrCoolSanta/)
form(morelikeanionic
compound).
Whenyouputthemorereactive
metalinit,itreplacestheZincin
theelectrolyte,sotheelectrolyte
nowcontainsthemetalinthe
dissolvedformandalayerof
Zincisformed.
So,themetalisactuallygetting
consumedtogiveyoubackthe
Zinc.

Reply(CJU3IECG1YQHVJM)

Inyourearlierexample,when
youputthepenniesinthe
vinegar,itformscopperacetate.
2CH3COOH+Cu>
Cu(CH3COO)2+H2
Nextwhenyouputtheironin,
sinceitismorereactive
Cu(CH3COO)2+Fe>
Fe(CH3COO)2+Cu
Yousee,thecopperbeing
formedhereleadstothatlayerof
copper,buttheironitselfhas
nowbecomeFe(CH3COO)2
whichisbasicallynotIron.
TogetbackthisIron,youneed
toprovideenergy,andindoing
soyouwillhavetoprovidemore
energythanyouactually
produced.
flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) JimJong
5yearsago

Youstilldon'tunderstand
electrochemistrysoIgiveup
(/member/lemonie/)
tryingtoexplainittoyou.
(Rechargeablescanbe
rechargedfrommanydifferent
sources)L

Reply(CU7KTBWFWYHVJGN)

flag

nicholast(/member/nicholast/) lemonie
5yearsago

Hesaiditcanrunonrainwater,
thatinitselfisenvironmentally
(/member/nicholast/)
friendly.Thepartstobuilditare
notthough.

Reply(CYY231FFWS6KRYA)

flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) nicholast
5yearsago

Itrunswithrainwater,thesource
ofenergyischemicaloxidationof
(/member/lemonie/)
themetal.Asyouobserve,apart
fromtherainwaternothinginthis
isreallyenvironmentfriendly.

Reply(CPFIMJAFWS6KST8)

L
flag

nicholast(/member/nicholast/) lemonie
5yearsago

Yourright.Butreallynothing
elseweuseeverydayis
(/member/nicholast/)
environmentfriendlyeither.And
agoodpointisthatitsnotusing
afossilfuelofsomekind,soless
pollution.AlthoughIdon'tknow
whatdamagethemetalsinit
causewhenscrapped,thatcould
beprettybaddependingonhow
wellitsrecycled.

Reply(CX83ZQRFWS6KT7P)

flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) nicholast
5yearsago

Thefossilfuelsareusedto
extract&refinethemetaland
(/member/lemonie/)
producethePVC.Agenerator
poweredbynaturallyflowing
waterwouldbebetter.Oldtech,
butwaterworks(likethat)L

Reply(CRIAJM0FWS6KUD5)

flag

nicholast(/member/nicholast/) lemonie
5yearsago

Theonetimeuseoffueltomake
thematerialsisbetterthanthe
(/member/nicholast/)
continuoususeinsay,a
generator.

Reply(CMTI26TFWS6KUN8)

flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) nicholast
5yearsago

Awaterpoweredgeneratormay
usethematerialsforyears.
(/member/lemonie/)
Chemicaloxidationtoelectricity
willconsumethemetalina
matterofhourscontinualuse.
I'mnotsurewhatyou'resaying
here?

Reply(CZ0088DFWS6KW61)

L
flag

JimJong(/member/JimJong/)(author) lemonie
Reply(C3NLEHMFWYHV20U)
5yearsago

Butyoucannotdestroyan

element,assomeguyonce
(/member/JimJong/)
said,soitisstillthere.Meaning
thatifyouharvestititcanbe
reused.
flag

lemonie(/member/lemonie/) JimJong
5yearsago

How?L

Reply(CG5JXELFWYHV4TP)

(/member/lemonie/)

140of
85

flag

Next(http://www.instructables.com/id/Howtomakeapowerfulwaterbattery/?
&sort=ACTIVE&limit=40&offset=40#DISCUSS)

Wehaveabenicecommentpolicy.
Pleasebepositiveandconstructive.

IMadeit!

AboutUs

AddImages

MakeComment

FindUs

WhoWeAre(/about/)

Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/instructables)

Advertise(/advertise/)

Youtube(http://www.youtube.com/user/instructablestv)

Contact(/about/contact.jsp)

Twitter(http://www.twitter.com/instructables)

Jobs(/community/PositionsavailableatInstructables/)
Help(/id/howtowriteagreatinstructable/)

Pinterest(http://www.pinterest.com/instructables)
Google+(https://plus.google.com/+instructables)
Tumblr(http://instructables.tumblr.com)

Join our newsletter:

enteremail

Join!

English

TermsofService(http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=21959721)
|
Resources
PrivacyStatement(http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=21292079) |

Mobile

ForTeachers(/teachers/)

DownloadournewappsforiOS,

ArtistsinResidence(http://www.autodesk.com/artistinresidence/home)

AndroidandWindows8!

LegalNotices&Trademarks(http://usa.autodesk.com/legalnoticestrademarks/) | MobileSite(http://m.instructables.com)
(http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?id=20781545&siteID=123112)

GiftProAccount(/account/give?sourcea=footer)
2014Autodesk,Inc.
Forums(/community/)
Answers(/tag/typequestion/?sort=RECENT)
Sitemap(/sitemap/)

Android
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.adsk.instructables)
iOS
(https://itunes.apple.com/app/instructables/id586765571)
Windows
(http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en
us/app/7afc8194c771441a9590
54250d6a8300)

GoProToday(/account/gopro?sourcea=footer)

We'reHiring!(/community/PositionsavailableatInstructables/)