How to Make a Penny Battery from Start to Finish

[@SergeLL]

@Ethan Wu: Cardboard is great. Especially if it is dense (compact and not too thick). It holds together better. I initially used some cardboard that was thick, but not very dense and it fell apart. You can also use vinegar by itself as the electrolyte.

[@MyasMelody]

thank you! i'm doing this for my science projec at the science fair at my school

[@scottbarton2443]

Great Video. It is the best "electricity from pennies" video on the net. However, you fail to mention just how hard it is to strip the copper off the back of those darn pennies! I discovered that it's a lot easier if you glue some 80 grit sandpaper to a board (rough side of the paper facing up) first. Then, make a wooden block (like a 2 X 4 about 5 inches long) to act as a penny grabber. Add some some grip liner (like that high grip stuff to keep things from sliding in the kitchen) to the block with some double sided tape, followed by another piece of double sided tape, followed by the penny (or pennies) - tails up (like a tape-liner-tape-penny sandwich up against the block). Try to keep the grip liner piece small for each penny so you grind more penny than grip liner. Then, turn the block upside down and rub it against the high grit sandpaper mounted on the board. You can remove a lot of copper from a lot of pennies simultaneously this way. It's still work, but not nearly as much as trying to grip, press down, and scrape one penny at a time!

[@RLZerr]

Mr. Lincoln zincs this does not make much cents. Save your sandpaper and fingertips by using some sheet metal and tin snips and cut out small pieces to lay between intact pennies. make a more powerful battery pile with copper pennies using aluminum foil circles and a drop of bleach instead of salt water or vinegar.

[@lilroast]

*My school threatening us saying if I don't do this then I wont be able to walk across the stage to graduate, I'm going to try my best to try this and hope nothing goes wrong even though this a EOC school project..*

[@livenotonevil8279]

Had to recruit three other adults to help with the sanding. Very difficult. Ended up taking a power sander to them to get the zinc fully exposed. Not recommended that kids do that part. It should be pre-done for them. Also, the leds were not bright until I clamped the whole package together. I used cereal box cardboard and let it soak a very long time for the solution to saturate it. And cardboard that is hanging off the edges can touch the other cardboard above and below it, so that will diminish the effect. Labor intensive, but nice result.

[@hkayd5242]

where can i find the led light and map port squares?

[@mrbrown6421]

Awesome! 2:06 Grinds a penny flat, by hand, on 150 grit paper, and maintains flawless fingernails.

[@hizonopusdie]

Could I use a Joule Thief to amplify its voltage ?

[@cortesjr.672]

+Exploratorium Teacher Institude why wont my led light up

[@ewu2380]

Is cardboard okay?

[@lucasmiller9081]

Is it legal to do this to a penny?

[@cyberben3d]

yes

[@royy9]

yes, you violate their rights

[@clayative4970]

How many volts does one cell put out?

[@jmialma09]

idk whats goin on but it wont work for me i did everything right and the light isnt broken

[@rebeccamathew741]

I tried making this coin battery, we followed all the steps mentioned in the video, but can't seem to get the lightbulb to light. I also checked the current and voltage of the coin battery, and there seemed to barely any voltage and no current. Please help!!!

[@nameerasana5647]

+Rebecca Mathew you should try using more than five batteries. Try using eight or nine, and also instead of using salt and vinegar solution, try with lime or lemon juice, either one is fine. That's what I did and it worked!

[@Goldtoise]

Nameera Sana I'm doing this as a school science experiment. The zinc on my pennies got very dark after putting them in between the cardboard. Will it still work?

[@justarandomdinosaur]

@@Goldtoise if the zink on the pennies is visible or touchable by the vinager and salt solution, the solution will actually eat at the zink. Hence the dark coloring. At least I think that's what happens.

[@mastershifuVJ]

If led doesn't glow due to low power output.... then try connecting a thin strip of paper.,... Which being insulator, will burn.... indicating the success in battery making. Best.

[@laracaparros47]

what if the penny isnt from 1982? what if its from 2014-2015? would it still work?

[@immolationangel4124]

+lara kathleen caparros Yes, pennies made after 1982 are required. Any penny made between 1983-2015 (present day) will work. Pennies made in 1982 and before were made of nearly pure copper and actually have a value greater than 1 cent in the current market. Because of this, the core of pennies made after 1982 have a core made of zinc, and a thin coating of copper. Pure copper pennies (1982 and before) will not work to make this battery because you NEED both the zinc and the copper. To keep it simple, electricity is transferred from the zinc TO the copper THROUGH the salt, forming the functioning battery.

[@derferrand8236]

marijuana grow lights ?

[@wyliewisnewski8092]

Does not work.

[@Thatwillbegreat]

This is stupid my dog hauteur tried it and it didn't work and by the way don't use mat board use paper towles

[@sandmastermaster]

Holly Knight hahaha alright. Why are you giving tips if your dog hauteur couldn't even do it?

[@ludwigvanbeethoven8870]

Holly Knight it does work you just gotta make sure the cardboard isn't touching the other pieces if this helps u.