Over the years, we have seen the iconic DOOM game played on a wide variety of different devices, but YouTuber Equalo has created a unique potato-powered battery capable of providing enough electricity to play DOOM on a TI-84 graphing calculator. This project originally started with the goal of providing enough power to run a Raspberry Pi mini PC, but unfortunately, it didn’t provide enough electricity.
The Journey to Potato Power
Equalo’s journey to power a device using potatoes was both ambitious and fascinating. The idea was to harness the chemical energy stored in potatoes and convert it into electrical energy. Potatoes contain phosphoric acid, which, when combined with zinc and copper electrodes, can create a small electric current. This principle is similar to the classic potato clock science experiment but on a much larger scale.
“Finally, success! After six days of labor and a garage full of potato stank, Doom was running on 100% potato power. While he was pleased with his experiment, Equalo discovered one unfortunate side-effect.”
“Equalo set out to get Doom running on a Raspberry Pi Zero, calculating he’d need about 770 slices of potatoes to generate the 100-120 milliamps and 5 volts required. He brought home 100 pounds of potatoes, boiled them (which increases the amperage), sliced them, and wired them up. Then he plugged in the Raspberry Pi.”
Challenges and Discoveries
The project was not without its challenges. One of the main issues was the sheer number of potatoes required. Equalo calculated that he would need approximately 770 slices of potatoes to generate the necessary 100-120 milliamps and 5 volts to power the Raspberry Pi Zero. This meant sourcing and preparing a significant amount of potatoes. He brought home 100 pounds of potatoes, boiled them to increase the amperage, sliced them, and wired them up.
Despite his meticulous preparation, the initial attempt to power the Raspberry Pi was unsuccessful. The potatoes did not generate enough consistent power to keep the Raspberry Pi running. However, Equalo did not give up. He decided to scale down his project and instead aimed to power a TI-84 graphing calculator, which requires significantly less power.
After six days of labor and dealing with the unpleasant smell of boiled potatoes, Equalo finally succeeded. He managed to get DOOM running on the TI-84 calculator using 100% potato power. This achievement was a testament to his perseverance and ingenuity.
However, there was an unfortunate side-effect. The potatoes began to mold and decay over time, which not only affected the power output but also created a rather unpleasant environment in his workspace. This highlighted one of the limitations of using organic materials for power generation.
So, if you have any potatoes in the bottom of your cupboards or drawers, perhaps now is a good time to wire them up and use them to create some amazing projects. While powering a Raspberry Pi might be ambitious, there are plenty of other low-power devices that could potentially be powered by potatoes.
This experiment by Equalo serves as an inspiring example of how creativity and scientific curiosity can lead to unique and interesting projects. It also opens up discussions about alternative energy sources and the potential for using everyday materials in innovative ways.
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