This one is for the preppers and survivalists! Upcycle your 250 beverage cans by turning them into a battery! All you need is water, table salt and some copper wire.

Benefits

• Uses just 15 grams of biodegradable PLA filament;
• Keep your cans out of the trash by turning them into a battery!
• One battery generates about half a volt. A bank of a dozen of them would power an LED lamp, or a ventilation fan, or a small radio, or whatever else you need.

Materials Needed

• Steel wool
• 10” of 12-16 gauge copper wire
• Plyers / wire cutters
• 250ml can
• 3D printer and about 15 grams of PLA filament
• ¾ cup water and 1 tbs table salt
• Voltmeter (optional)

Instructions

• Print the battery file using biodegradable PLA. No support material or rafts are required, just print using standard settings for your choice of filament.
• Remove the top of your can using a can opener, and then use scissors to clean up the lip.
• Use steel wool to remove the plastic coating on the inside of the can.
• Take about 10” of 12 to 16 gauge copper wire, and coil it around a cylinder to make a spring. Leave about 1.5” of the spring straight.
• Feed the straight end of the copper spring through the positive hole of the print. Use plyers to bend the end of the spring to keep it from falling back through the hole.
• Use scissors to make a small cut to the top of the can’s lip about 1/8” thick.
• Fill the with about ¾ cup of water, and add a tablespoon to salt.
• Bend the strip that you cut upward, and feed it through the negative hole of the print as you insert the print into the can.
• You have now created a battery! Test and see how much voltage you get. You can add more salt, or copper wire to increase the voltage. You can also try to remove more plastic from the inside of the can to increase voltage. Adding an acid like vinegar or drain cleaner will also increase the voltage.
• Be very careful! This battery makes real electrical current, and can be dangerous!

Thanks for downloading! If you feel so inclined, leave me a small tip, and tweet your prints to @Dickeyscott1098, or tag me on Instagram at @dickeyscott