Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!harris.cis.ksu.edu!mac From: mac@harris.cis.ksu.edu (Myron A. Calhoun) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Has anyone made any homemade valves (tubes), semiconductors ... Summary: "P" Cell Keywords: urine Message-ID: <1990Aug11.162721.8034@maverick.ksu.ksu.edu> Date: 11 Aug 90 16:27:21 GMT Expires: 25 August 1990 References: <872@massey.ac.nz> <1205@gold.GVG.TEK.COM> Sender: news@maverick.ksu.ksu.edu (The News Guru) Distribution: na Organization: Kansas State University, Dept. of Computing and Information Sciences Lines: 14 In article <872@massey.ac.nz> GMoretti@massey.ac.nz (Giovanni Moretti) writes: >And how about batteries with household chemicals (ie not sulphuric) Almost 30 years ago my senior electronics lab project included a one-transistor amplifier powered by what my write-up called a "P" cell. I recall that it used a silver dime (yep, this was pre 1965), a copper penny, a piece of ink blotter, and a couple drops of urine (hence the name "P" or "Pee" cell!) Worked like a charm. --Myron. -- # Myron A. Calhoun, Ph.D. E.E.; Associate Professor (913) 539-4448 home # INTERNET: mac@harris.cis.ksu.edu (129.130.10.2) 532-6350 work # UUCP: ...{rutgers, texbell}!ksuvax1!harry!mac 532-7004 fax # AT&T Mail: attmail!ksuvax1!mac