abvidledUK
Flashlight Enthusiast
April 1st
I have found that I can illuminate a Red LED using fruit.
Experimenting with various fruits, and LEDs, I found that the best result, so far, was with a Banana, and a Red LED.
The Red LED requires less voltage than other LEDs to work, and the Banana supplies just enough potential difference to illuminate the Red Led slightly.
It is quite precise as to the insertion of the LED, bearing in mind the different lengths of the LED leads.
As far as I can make out, it is the junction between the banana skin, and the Banana fruit itself that provides the potential difference (volts).
So one lead will be in the skin, with the other slightly longer lead actually in the Banana itself.
I presume it works due to the acidity, sugar content, and potassium within the Banana.
You need to insert the LED slowly, until just the correct depth is reached, when the LED lights up, albeit dimly.
I was unable to measure the voltage, due to the small resistance of my multi-meter leads.
The LED stay illuminated for about a day, then needs to be re-positioned for best effect.
(it'll never replace batteries, but perhaps a series of Bananas may provide enough volts to illuminate a White LED.)
Similar tech info on sugar powered cells.
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/7137/8161/sugar-powered-batteries-fuel-cell.phtml
http://www.zpenergy.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2289
I have found that I can illuminate a Red LED using fruit.
Experimenting with various fruits, and LEDs, I found that the best result, so far, was with a Banana, and a Red LED.
The Red LED requires less voltage than other LEDs to work, and the Banana supplies just enough potential difference to illuminate the Red Led slightly.
It is quite precise as to the insertion of the LED, bearing in mind the different lengths of the LED leads.
As far as I can make out, it is the junction between the banana skin, and the Banana fruit itself that provides the potential difference (volts).
So one lead will be in the skin, with the other slightly longer lead actually in the Banana itself.
I presume it works due to the acidity, sugar content, and potassium within the Banana.
You need to insert the LED slowly, until just the correct depth is reached, when the LED lights up, albeit dimly.
I was unable to measure the voltage, due to the small resistance of my multi-meter leads.
The LED stay illuminated for about a day, then needs to be re-positioned for best effect.
(it'll never replace batteries, but perhaps a series of Bananas may provide enough volts to illuminate a White LED.)
Similar tech info on sugar powered cells.
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/7137/8161/sugar-powered-batteries-fuel-cell.phtml
http://www.zpenergy.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2289
Last edited:
