In order to light up your led light, I need to know the spec of the led light.
I highly recommend you to try a low voltage led bulb, for example the 3W MR16 GU5.3 LED Bulb (which is powered on with 7-16V AC/DC). That would be easier for your project. Good luck!
a copper penny and a zinc clad nail in a lemon or lime will make about .7 to .9 volts.
this a function of the metals used, and not the choice of the lemon or lime as an acid source.
most LED's will glow at around 3 volts.
to get sufficient voltage to light an LED, you would have to connect at least 3 or 4 fruit batteries in series. (voltages add in series circuits) alligator clips will make this easier
that's no guarantee that the current wlll be high enough, but it's a start.
use an ohmmeter to make sure each battery is working, and to see what the total series circuit is generating.
if you can't get an LED to light, all is not lost.
the next best thing would be to include an ohmmeter in the project.
at least then, you would still be demonstrating that the fruit battery works.
The standard electrode potential of zinc = -0.76V and of copper +0.34V
The cell potential is the difference between them V = -0.76 - +0.34 = -1.10V
A zinc plated nail will be fine. Copper plumbing pipe is good. For decent current you need good clean electrodes, a decent surface area and close together. Look at the voltaic pile for an example. Then make one yourself by flattening the copper tube, and using zinc plated washers. (you could use cadmium plated instead butr the voltage will be lower.)
you need a minimum of 4 cells to light a LED.
Remember that for the LED to work you need the right amount of voltage to breakdown the junction and forward bias it AND you need enough current for it to light up. You will need a series-parallel connection of limes to meet these requirements.
Feel free to contact me with any other questions.
To power one white LED, try 8 pieces fruit cells.
I am trying to make a fruit powered battery for my science fair and i need help because i have been trying it for a while now.
