Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Electrolysis with a Li-Po Battery

Pseudonym_ - 27-2-2016 at 17:34

I'm wondering if it's safe to electrolyze directly (hook up negative and positive to graphite electrodes in a solution) with a 5v 5000mAh Li-Po battery. If it's not are there any ways to do it safely?

Sulaiman - 28-2-2016 at 01:17

Lithium cells range from 3 to 4 volts,
so a 5v Li-Ion battery must involve some elactronics.
Assuming that you are referring to usb power packs,
if you do not short-circuit it, then it should be ok
A 10 Ohm or more resistor, or a small 6v filament lamp, in series with the supply output, would allow for inevitable mistakes :D

EDIT: lamp examples http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/filament-indicator-lamps/65596... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-MES-Miniature-Lamp-Light-Bulb-6...

[Edited on 28-2-2016 by Sulaiman]

Pseudonym_ - 28-2-2016 at 10:25

Quote: Originally posted by Sulaiman  
Lithium cells range from 3 to 4 volts,
so a 5v Li-Ion battery must involve some elactronics.
Assuming that you are referring to usb power packs,
if you do not short-circuit it, then it should be ok
A 10 Ohm or more resistor, or a small 6v filament lamp, in series with the supply output, would allow for inevitable mistakes :D

EDIT: lamp examples http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/filament-indicator-lamps/65596... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-MES-Miniature-Lamp-Light-Bulb-6...

[Edited on 28-2-2016 by Sulaiman]


Thanks for the reply,

Do i hook up the lightbulb/resistor to the positive or negative terminal?

Sulaiman - 28-2-2016 at 21:17

either will work the same, or you could have 5 or 4.7 ohms in series with each battery terminal.

I normally use (negative) as 0v/ground and (positive) as 'hot'/'live' where I would add the resistor.