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Old 4th Dec 2006, 11:47 pm   #1
adibrook
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Default the lemon amp

This has got to be the dumbest thing i'v ever built. But i will share it with you nevertheless.

Its an amp powered by lemons.

I have no idea what motivated me to build it...but i thought there are lemon powered clock kits about, so why not a lemon powered amp.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...k/lemonamp.gif

The electrodes i used in the lemons were copper and steel. With this setup, the 1st cell produces about 0.5v. However, the whole chain barely produces 1.3v, which leads me to believe that some cells are malfunctioning. But the electrodes are soldered together so i will find out which one is the faulty one when i break the battery up.

The amp works. Its really weak, but sounds decent.

I think i will perfect the battery...copper and steel arnt the ideal materials i dont think.

If each lemon produces about 0.5v than 6 of them working well should give 3v, which may be enough to even run a small regen.

Next project...lemon powered radio .
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Old 5th Dec 2006, 9:25 am   #2
Mike Phelan
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Default Re: the lemon amp

Adi
It's a pity that the strange plant you found in a previous thread wasn't a lemon tree - you could have used a DL96 amp then!

The heater might have needed a few grapefruit, though.
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Old 5th Dec 2006, 11:25 am   #3
paulsherwin
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Default Re: the lemon amp

You don't really need the 50k bias pot Adi. Just replace the 120k bias resistor with a 47k fixed and 200-500k preset in series. This will reduce the current drawn and should improve performance.

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Old 5th Dec 2006, 12:57 pm   #4
dave_n_t
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Default Re: the lemon amp

Adi,

One of the best 'common' pairs of metals to use is copper (+ve) and zinc (-ve) [these are Mr Daniell's choices ]. You used to be able to get zinc from the outside case of old torch batteries [D cells, for example]. But galvanised nails work quite well.

If you want to be a little more exotic, try magnesium ribbon for the -ve poles. (although the acid might well react with the magnesium passively, anyway). And gold for the +ves, if you have a lot of it lying around unused

Try to position the electrodes quite close together in the lemons (without allowing them to touch).

Have fun!

dave
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Old 5th Dec 2006, 9:54 pm   #5
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Default Re: the lemon amp

Love it
Quote:
Originally Posted by adibrook View Post
Next project...lemon powered radio .
Which I feel is a good project that a ZN414 or a MK484 can be used for. I would think that three Lemon cells could be used for it, as the voltage needed is just 1.5 Volts.

See Link for some ideas --> http://www.arar93.dsl.pipex.com/mds9...trfradios.html

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Old 7th Dec 2006, 7:34 pm   #6
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Default Re: the lemon amp

Just a thought, but why stop at having only one pair of electrodes per fruit?

Surely a battery could be constructed in the same way as each of your cells?

Or did the last person I saw demonstrating that idea have a PP3 hidden inside each lemon?
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Old 7th Dec 2006, 7:37 pm   #7
Kat Manton
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Default Re: the lemon amp

Hi,
Quote:
Originally Posted by GJR 11L View Post
Just a thought, but why stop at having only one pair of electrodes per fruit?
The same reason why a battery of cells can't share electrolyte - you end up with short-circuits...

Cheers, Kat
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Old 8th Dec 2006, 4:10 pm   #8
Merlin
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Default Re: the lemon amp

That's hilarious! Love it Adi!
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Old 8th Dec 2006, 9:29 pm   #9
adibrook
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Default Re: the lemon amp

I am now trying to get some copper pipe and zink plated metal to make the cells more efficiant.

Also i will get one of those radio chips.

Should be interasting to see if a lemon radio is possible.
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Old 8th Dec 2006, 9:42 pm   #10
Sean Williams
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Default Re: the lemon amp

Very possible - have made one, along with a spud powered torch.......
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