How to build a dirt battery?

Have you seen the articles online on building a dirt powered battery? If you put a stick of copper and another made of zinc in the ground and water regularly, you can get a voltage out of them. We purchased a hobby sized unit that powers a digital clock with two small flower pots, and it works, but I am trying to build a bigger one in the garden with copper pipes and stuff, but I don't have zinc rods laying around and don't want to spend a lot on it. Anyone tried this? Anyone know what other metals would work other than zinc? I would love to hear your ideas or experiences. Thanks.

Breath on the Wind2010-03-23T09:01:04Z

Favorite Answer

Somewhere around where you live there will be places (like this one: http://www.epi.com/pages/zinc-plating ) that offer zinc plating. At your local big box store in your electrical department you will find grounding rods that will be completely copper or copper plated.

You may be able to find some place like this one: http://www.erico.com/products/GalvRods.asp that offers galvanized (zinc coated) grounding rods or just use a galvanized pipe.

hi2010-03-23T06:47:41Z

try in wekioedia

Van2010-03-23T07:08:47Z

dont do that is dangerous