Build 005Queued
Build a battery
Use two different metals and a simple electrolyte to make a tiny source of voltage we can measure ourselves.
Before we start
A battery separates charge so electrons have somewhere to go. Can ordinary materials create enough push for our meter to notice?
The goal
Build a working battery from two metals and a lemon, and measure what it produces.
How we'll do it
- 01Place one copper and one zinc piece into the electrolyte without letting them touch.
- 02Connect the meter and look for a small voltage reading.
- 03Reverse the meter leads and notice what changes.
- 04Compare cells or connect two together and ask why the reading changes.
Optional equipment
Prints that make the build easier. None are required. Every build works with tape and clips.
Hackaday
Lemon juice battery tray
A tray that holds pennies and zinc screws in lemon juice, with cells we can connect in series or parallel.
Not printed yet
Printables
Banana battery (voltaic pile)
Stack zinc washer, banana slice, copper washer. More layers, more voltage.
Not printed yet
Read alongside