Lemon-Powered Desk Clock Brings Back Science Fair Memories
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 12. 1.08
Photo via Anna Gram
Here’s a stylish throwback to grade school science experiments: A clock that runs on lemons.
The citrus clock is designed to be an elegant way to run a timepiece for a week with one lemon. But, it raises a few questions about the merit of such a design.
The clock is made with a plug of zinc and copper that you place the lemon on top of. The acidic lemon juice connecting with the zinc and copper of the plug creates electrolysis, powering the clock.
Running a clock on a lemon a week seems pretty neat. But what is the point when we have clocks on our computers, our cell phones, and pretty much everywhere else we turn? These are gadgets we’re already charging anyway, so to waste a lemon on a novelty clock seems a little silly. Unless you live in places like California, Arizona or Florida where lemon trees grow like weeds, buying lemons just to run a clock and then throw it in the compost bin might be a bit wasteful. Besides, unless you like the fresh scent, who wants a sliced lemon sitting on their desk?
However, despite all these downer points, we have to say that the idea of a lovely looking desk clock that runs on just lemons does pull at our tree-hugging heart strings. And the novelty of it could start up some nostalgic science fair- related conversations.
Via Anna Gram
More Unusual Ways to Keep Time:
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TiWalkMe: The 1000-Year Old Forest Clock
The Paper Alarm Clock
Recycled CD-Clocks From Acorn Studios
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Lemon trees do not really grow like weeds, but aside from that, the amount of fuel to distribute the lemon from the tree to the clock far outweighs it's efficiencies gained.
For people who have to purchase a lemon from the store to power it- not so sensible. For people who have a tree in their backyard or access to a tree in the community, this is pretty darn cool. I'd like to to see some DIY instruction though- it's gotta be pretty simple to make with a trip to your local electronics supply store...
No, there are far more efficient ways to power an LCD clock. Button cells typically last for years, and they're tiny. They're far better at this application than lemons are. Even if you throw the button cells away, they're an utterly insignificant part of the landfill stream.
Cute, but really just an energy shell game. Electric Energy "energy" was used to make the zinc and copper, both by electrolis, and that process uses up way more electricity than it takes to run a little LDC display.
How is this remotely mindful? Its just more frivolous junk to clutter up our lives.
Has a "neat-o cool" factor, but wasteful, especially when you consider that we have a perfectly good solution available and it's been around for centuries: the mechanical clock. Most people don't need atomic clock accuracy, they just need to be on time to work/school, etc. Another advantage of the mechanical alarm clock is that even when you have a brownout, it still runs and you're still going to be getting up at the time you set.
I can't believe people really debate the efficiency & cost effectiveness of some posted subjects, such as this one.
Of course it is novelty. Do you honestly believe that someone is proposing "a lemon-powered clock in every home!" Oy vey. I mean.. did you even think what this would do to the fair trade lemon maket???
(I know this is tip-toeing over the line of civility, but, please?)
It's more accurate to say that it runs on lemmons AND zinc. The zinc anode gets depleted. A non renewable resource so to speak.
What a waste of a good lemon that could have been used to accent my wheat beer last evening.
It's pretty clear on their website when they insist of the name " pedagogic " project.
This project doesn't look like made to replace our computer clock.
its a fun lil toy but thats all it is just a toy...
It wont even last long as the byproducts of electrolysis will deplete the zinc and the copper plates, also the salts formed during electrolysis will make the lemon fatal to have ! I just hope noone is brave enough to try that lemon :D