The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-02

TIE BATTERY, WITH SMALL ELECTRIC LIGHT
You see the illustration. Now for de
scription of it. A large tin fruit can will do
as we'll as any thing to contain the Chemicals.
Take can that is well timed and sound.
Wherever solder has been used in the seams
or Joints cover with melted pitch while the
can is warm. The inner cell is of unglazed
red earthenware. This inner cell appears in
the engraving within the outer one, on the
left of the picture The inner clay cell can
be got from a pottery or ordered from a
country merchant. The potters make them
of all sizes. About one-third Of the upper
part of the clay cell must be made non
porous Coat it by dipping it to this depth
into bowl of melted paraftine wax. Give
it two or threa coats, dipping for the mex.
one after the former gets cold.
Set the clay cell inside the tin one. Fill
the space between the two with iron filings
and cuttings, or if it is not convenient to
get these, use small nails, tacks, scraps of
iron and pieces of iron wire. No metal but
iron will do, however, and it must not be
galvanized Next come the chemicals. Fill
the clay cell with a solution of caustic pot
ash Be careful not to let it touch the skin
or you will be sorry. Keep it in glass or
glazed crockcry vessel. Get then a thick
strip or plate of zinc. The upper end of it
must taper OFT thin and sharp, so that when
it is put into the inner cell this thin piece can
pass upward through the tight cover of the
cell The picture shows the thin end of the
zinc as it passes up through the cover of the
inner cell and loops over. This cover must
be of cork or wood, and very tight fitting, to
close the cell perfectly. 1t is in the shape Of
a cork or stopper. Insert the piece of zinc
into the potash solution, as shown in the il.
lustration, cork tight, and seal around and
over the top of the cork with wax or hot
pitch The covering must be perfectly air
tight.
Now all is ready. The clay cell is very
porous and the potash solution passes
through its wall and minges with the iron
filings in the outer cell. 1t eats up the zinc
plate rapidly that is dipped into it, and this
chemical action in connection with the moist
ened iron filing produces the electric current
Fasten copper wire to the loo of the zinc
above the cover, and that end of the battery
is ready for use The circuit must be com
pleted by returning the other end OF the wire
to the outer cell, or by connecting it with
another cell. Out in the middle of the wire
circuit is where the electric current is to 10
caught and utilized. You see in the picture
the two ends passing from two connected
cans. The more cans or cups you have the
stronger the electric current will be- Join
the outer cell of one with the inner cell of the
next one, and so on. The battery may bs
placed upon the floor, and wires made to
pass up the wall to a bracket holding the
electric lamp The lamp shown in the pic
ture is the ordinary one used for electric
lighting, consisting of q carbon horss shoe
enclosed in an alright glass globe. The
glow of light is produced by passing the cur
rent through these points. To make bat
terry of this sort will be grand work for the
boys. One battery, consisting of an inner
and outer CELL costs about - cents The So
luton of potash aud the zinc plat- VII need
To be renewed from time to time