Atarian

Crystal radios are great projects to do with your kids, too.

The high impedance earphones are getting a little hard to find, though.

freeenergyguy

Instead of a crystal radio, make a rectenna. Same concept but its used for energy instead of radio

Atarian

Is that what they used to call a joule thief?

freeenergyguy

im not totally sure what a joule thief is but ive seen them on youtube used alongside crystal radios.

a joule thief steals energy from the air?

Atarian

If I remember correctly, it's based on a transformer to up the voltage from the EM hash in the air that's being emitted by all of our technojunk.

freeenergyguy

Its an induction coil. Not a transformer. A transformer will use up the current.

Pedersoli

We used to make them with a razor blade, wire wrapped around a cardboard tube and a piece of pencil lead on a safety pin. They were called the Fox Hole radio.

freeenergyguy

Are you from the Vietnam era?

Pedersoli

I was in the Canadian army from '69-'72. We built those Fox Hole radios when I was in grade 5 or 6. I think you can still find the plans online.

freeenergyguy

You can use the same idea for power instead of radio. Its called a rectenna. Hook up a dipole antenna to an antenna to coax adapter. Connect that to a germanium diode and then the diode to the ground. Enjoy your free power.

freeenergyguy

connect a dipole antenna to a germanium diode. connect the other end of the diode to the ground.