Capacitors range from a simple, low-voltage setup to complex high-voltage machinery. If you just want to try your hand at making a simple capactior, our how-to guide will show you how!
Steps
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Fill a non-metallic vessel (such as a paper cup, or a plastic bottle) with warm saltwater. Use warm water to dissolve the salt. -
Wrap the outside of the vessel with aluminum foil, or tin foil.Advertisement -
Place a metal object (such as a knife, a nail, etc) in the saltwater. The foil is one terminal, and the water/metal object combination is the other. Do not allow the water or the metal object to touch the foil or spill over the side. This will short the capacitor and make it impossible to charge.- Later you can use a voltmeter to verify if the capacitor can hold a charge.
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Charge it up, by applying the voltage from an ordinary household battery, to both terminals. After a few seconds disconnect the battery and connect the voltmeter to the terminals of the capacitor. Any reading (mV-V) will indicate a charge. -
Congratulations, you have a working capacitor, capable of holding an electric charge!
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat is the advantage of a salt water capacitor over a water capacitor?Community AnswerSalt water is more conductive than plain water, so it will hold a charge better.
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QuestionDoes the capacitor have any specific polarity?Community AnswerSome do. Electrolytic capacitors have the polarity marked. Hooked up backward, they pop and let the magic smoke out. Other types are not polarity sensitive.
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QuestionDo I need to wrap the bottom of the capacitor?Community AnswerNot necessarily. The capacitive effect occurs from the separation of the two plates (conductors). Not wrapping the bottom reduces the size of the plates (conductors), resulting in less capacitance, or a less capacitive effect, so you just have a smaller capacitor vs. the overall physical size of the unit that could have been utilized to maximize its energy potential.
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Tips
- You can charge it up with a battery, or with static electricity. You cannot charge a capacitor with an alternating current, only with a direct current.Thanks
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Warnings
- Capacitors are very dangerous. Do not touch one after it has been charged by a power source, because it will shock you.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Warm water
- Salt
- Non-metallic vessel (paper cup or plastic bottle)
- Aluminum or tin foil
- Metal object (knife or nail)
- Volt-ohm meter (optional)
- Battery
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