Q&A for How to Make a Homemade Battery

The Coke contains phosphoric acid, which acts as an electrolyte. The electrolyte act as a barrier to the electrons, forcing them to go through one wire, through the device, thorough the other wire and back to the opposite end of the battery, all in an attempt to create a state of equilibrium with the negative and positive charges.

They make the voltage higher. When the liquid's pH is farther away from neutral (7), they make more electricity.

One of the main components of a battery is an electrolyte. Electrolytes can be found in sodium ions, which compose salt.

If your battery supplies enough electricity or is low voltage DC, or you have a DC/AC inverter, then yes.

Yes. Any metal will work because they all react to produce electricity, but quality may be affected due to conductivity.

No, this is a low DC current like a battery. You could still touch the battery without being hurt.

Modern technology in batteries is basically a much smaller and more potent version of what you have made here, and it uses more conductive materials that last for a longer time.

You can use other wires, but since copper is very low on the metal reactivity series, it will create a higher voltage when used with more reactive metals. The bigger the reactivity difference between the two metals, the higher the voltage created. Copper wires are also more common and easier to get. You can take an old extension cord you have and peel off the insulating layer or just buy a whole lot of them in a hardware shop.

No. Metals should be used to make a homemade battery. Glass is not a conductor of electricity.

Yes, both are electrolytes. They cause the metals to react and generate electricity.

Yes, you can. A screw made of iron coated with copper or zinc is the best choice.

You can tell positive and negative with a multimeter. Voltage can vary depending on the metal and how much electrolyte was used.

Yes. The temperature of the water has no effect, although the voltage may change with the temp.

The battery durability depends on the current consumption and the pattern of your battery. A good way to estimate working time is to find the Ah of your battery. 1 Ah delivers about 1 amp for one hour.

No. There's not enough energy being created to be able to recharge anything.

It probably won't work, as water has no charge in the solid form. Ionic bonds only conduct electricity in liquid or molten state.

Yes, you can.

Yes, you can use another electrolyte such as soda, lemon juice, salt water, mineral water, or vinegar.

The maximum output of a salt water battery is less than 10 volts.

Yes, they are both good conductors of electricity.

Copper foil can be found at hardware stores such as Home Depot. Copper wire can be torn out of electronics, bought at Home Depot, or purchased online. Silver or gold would work better than copper, but copper is far easier to get, and far cheaper.

Because one metal is giving electrons away to the other metal, so you need one reactive metal (one which gladly donates electrons) like zinc, iron, or aluminum, and one unreactive metal (one which gladly accepts electrons) like copper, silver, or gold. Electrons are electrically-charged particles, so the movement of them through the liquid creates electricity. It is absolutely necessary to use 2 metals.

No. The battery is far too weak. They might power a fan, a clock, or a small LED though.

Yes, it is.

You can, but zinc screws would perform better.

The copper wires or screws might be coated. Try scratching the surface of the copper wires, using thicker copper wires and using different types of screws.

Yes. The major component of a battery is electrolytes, so it will have a bearing on the performance of the batteries.

Lemon juice in salty water may prolong the batteries life, since there is acid in the lemons.

Yes, but you will need to match the voltage and amperage required by the light bulb in order to get the light bulb to work normally, so you may need multiple batteries.

Yes, you do.