By Chris Deziel
Updated Mar 24, 2022
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The world of DIY inventions is ever expanding, and many of the most fascinating ideas are yet to be fully realized. A simple project—like creating a battery from a potato—can ignite curiosity and pave the way toward groundbreaking innovations. Children have historically been the source of everyday tools, from earmuffs to crayon holders, and even fun items like popsicles and trampolines. Below are three engaging projects that will spark creativity and demonstrate practical engineering.
Did you know that potatoes, lemons, apples, bananas, and strawberries can conduct electricity? A basic potato battery is surprisingly simple: insert a length of bare copper wire into one end of the potato and a galvanized nail into the opposite end. To test the circuit, wrap thin copper wires around the nail and the copper piece, connect them to alligator clips, and attach the clips to an LED salvaged from an old string of Christmas lights. If the potato is large enough, the LED should glow.
To double the voltage, wire multiple potatoes in series by connecting the nail of one to the copper of the next. This configuration allows you to power small devices such as clocks, flashlights, or any creative gadget you imagine. A quick tip for stronger output: boiling the potato before use can increase its electrical performance.
With just a AA battery, hot‑melt glue, metal tweezers, solder, and braided copper wire, you can craft a simple wood engraver. Glue the tweezers to the battery’s body so that the prongs extend about an inch beyond one end. Solder a length of copper wire to each battery terminal, then wrap each wire around a separate tweezer prong. When you press the tweezers firmly against wood, the prongs become hot enough to etch a design into the surface.
To make the engraver solar‑powered, swap the battery for a rechargeable one. When the battery depletes, disconnect the tweezers’ wires and attach them to the terminals of a solar landscape light. After a few hours of sunlight, the light’s battery will recharge the tweezers, readying your engraver for the next project.
Instead of synthetic air fresheners, you can create a natural fragrance spray using fruit. Start with a clean, empty pump sprayer. Remove its bottom cap so the internal tube extends about two inches. Insert the tube through the peel of a fresh orange, then squeeze the fruit while pumping to release a burst of citrus aroma directly into the air. This spritzer also works wonderfully as a flavor enhancer for salads or a glass of ice water.
