Pressurized Salts Cell – How To
Using a waterproofing technique similar to the Rock Tester shown recently, this is a simple method to form a pressurisation of the ingredients in forming a crystal salts cell.
(American and UK spellings, due to being English and living in America).
An ingredient which creates a foaming action can be used to create the pressure.
In this case, fine magnesium shavings.
The cell is made from a grain each of magnesium shavings, Epsom salts and Alum.
Spring water was then added, such that a reactionary foaming occurred, but that didn’t overflow all over the place.
During which time, the cap was fitted to the cell, already containing the electrodes to be used…in this case copper wound in a pancake and a piece of galvanised steel.
Output voltage is 0.790V
The reaction process lasted a clear 10 minutes, enough time to fit the white cap, glue and make sure there were no leaks.
The circuit is a regular blocking oscillator. Consisting of a 250 winding ferrite core coil, ‘104’ ceramic capacitor and 1M resistor as the tank circuit, 47uF front side electrolytic capacitor. Transistor is an STS 5343.
All oscillator components are salvaged from old circuit boards.
The cell was made yesterday afternoon and has surprisingly exhibited the constant light, rather than flashing the LED.
Many thanks to OUBrads, for the magnesium (which i’ve never tried in experiments before).