News needs to be heard...

[Visinedrops]

http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/radio/radio.html

I've been looking for ways to create a feasable radio to ensure I'm able to know what's going on in the event of a catastrophe. I've found the above web site to be quite helpful in creating a useable radio if all else fails.

When power is no longer available, and you've exhausted your supply of batteries, two potatoes linked together with copper and zinc can supply enough electricity to power a small crystal-style radio for quite some time.

[Zombie Axe]

Sounds good VD... but whatcha gonna do when you run out of taters??? ;)



Sorry I could NOT resist! :D

Cool radio! I think everyone should have a crystal radio kit as it may be the only source of info you have!

[Visinedrops]

Sounds good VD... but whatcha gonna do when you run out of taters??? ;)



Sorry I could NOT resist! :D

LOL. thanks.

I've actually got a plan for that. My car is equipped with a 12v generator which creates its own power, as opposed to an alternator which must have current applied to it in order to give off a charge, to which I can retrofit a sprocket, then mount on an overturned 10 speed.

Never forget the parts and pieces of items around you, because their functionality can change instantly when you need it to do something it was not intended for.

[Zombie Axe]

Good one VD! Improvisation is one of the best skills to have WTSHTF! :)

[TheUnboundOne]

Dear Visinedrops and Zombie Axe,

Ah, man! You guys are bringing back such wonderful memories! I always loved making crystal radios when I was a kid!

:)

According to this Site below, you could also use a piece of coke, derived from burning coal, to serve as the diode:

Foxhole Radio--Bizarre Labs

http://bizarrelabs.com/foxhole.htm

And according to this You Tube video, Galena (a.k.a. Lead Sulfide) can serve as a crystal diode:

Crystal Radio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y79DVEujTB4

And since coal, is, of course, just crystalized organic matter, I imagine that it couldn't hurt to try using coal itself as a diode. It would be especially interesting to see if salt or sugar crystals could serve to direct current in one direction like a diode. If that worked, you could have a potential radio in your 3-day rations. Must experiment later.

As for cells, the basic premise is two different metals serving as anode and cathode, separated by an insulator, and saturated with acid or electrolytes. I've seen several designs in several different books. The Dangerous Book for Boys suggests U.S. Quarters with round pieces of Aluminum Foil, separated by round pieces of paper in between and wetted with lemon juice would make a great wet cell battery.

Pennies could work good with Zinc washers separated by paper. (And who said Federal Reserve Currency is useless? :D )

If you had nothing else to get current flowing in a wet cell, you could always use salt water (salt lowers the electrical resistance of water) or even pee (ureaic acid.) When experimenting, however, just remember Ren & Stimpy's wise caution against whizzing on electic fences.

:D