How to Make a Potato Clock

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Don't be shocked, but the next time you order "fries with that," you'll be eating nature's veritable battery. Potatoes can function as an electrolyte and provide the minimal voltage necessary to power a simple LED clock.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

2 Drywall Nails
3 Alligator Clips
Copper Wire
Galvanized Nails
Galvanized Nails
2 baking potatoes

Step 1

Assemble your supplies. You'll need two common galvanized nails; three alligator clip/wire units - that is, alligator clips connected to one another with wire; two short pieces of heavy copper wire; a simple low-voltage LED clock unit; and two potatoes. Obtain a simple LED clock unit that functions from the power of a 1- to 2-volt, button-type battery.
Step 2

Open the battery compartment and remove the battery.
Step 3

Note that there is a positive (+) and a negative (-) terminal point where the battery was installed.
Step 4

Identify the potatoes as number one and number two.
Step 5

Insert one nail in each potato.
Step 6

Insert one short piece of heavy copper wire in each potato, placing it as far from the nail as possible.
Step 7

Use one alligator clip/wire to connect the copper wire inserted in potato one to the positive terminal in the clock unit.
Step 8

Use one alligator clip/wire to link the nail in potato two to the negative terminal in the clock unit.
Step 9

Use the final alligator clip/wire to link the nail in potato one to the copper wire in potato two.
Step 10

Set your clock.