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Fuel Cells
Moderators: kgudger, bfinio, MadelineB, Moderators
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deleted-246450
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:59 pm
- Occupation: Student: 8th grade
- Project Question: I am testing the efficiency of a fuel cell.
- Project Due Date: 12/3/14
- Project Status: I am conducting my experiment
Fuel Cells
Hi, for my science fair project, I am testing the efficiency of a fuel cell depending on the exterior temperature. I am using the project Fuel cells-Fueling the Future on science buddies as a guide. (here is the link: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... #materials). Using a Horizon Fuel cell Technology, I am making a circuit including the fuel cells with tubes attached to storage tanks, two wires, a battery pack, two alligator clips, and a resistor. (You can see these pictures it the link above) I am using a multimeter to find the voltage drop across the resistor and across the fuel cell. However, the resistor shows no data when I am trying to find the voltage drop across the fuel cell (I know the mulitmeter works because I tested it). I have tried multiple times to solve this problem and can find no solution. Can you help me solve this problem?
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norman40
- Former Expert
- Posts: 1022
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2014 1:49 pm
- Occupation: retired chemist
- Project Question: Volunteer
- Project Due Date: n/a
- Project Status: Not applicable
Re: Fuel Cells
Hello npatel6,
Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry that you're having problems with your voltage measurements and I will try to help.
Is your multimeter set to measure DC Voltage? If not, set the switch on the multimeter to the “V DC” position.
Do you have good connections between the wires from the battery to the fuel cell and to the multimeter? Note that the alligator clips must contact the multimeter probes and the wires to the fuel cell and battery.
Do you have good connections between the wires from the battery to the resistor?
Are you using one resistor or multiple resistors in your circuit? If you are using multiple resistors, make sure your have good connections as shown in the procedure.
I hope this helps. Please ask again if you have more questions.
A. Norman
Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry that you're having problems with your voltage measurements and I will try to help.
Is your multimeter set to measure DC Voltage? If not, set the switch on the multimeter to the “V DC” position.
Do you have good connections between the wires from the battery to the fuel cell and to the multimeter? Note that the alligator clips must contact the multimeter probes and the wires to the fuel cell and battery.
Do you have good connections between the wires from the battery to the resistor?
Are you using one resistor or multiple resistors in your circuit? If you are using multiple resistors, make sure your have good connections as shown in the procedure.
I hope this helps. Please ask again if you have more questions.
A. Norman
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deleted-246450
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:59 pm
- Occupation: Student: 8th grade
- Project Question: I am testing the efficiency of a fuel cell.
- Project Due Date: 12/3/14
- Project Status: I am conducting my experiment
Re: Fuel Cells
Dear A. Norman,
Thank you so much for your suggestions! I realized that I had the multimeter at the wrong setting for collecting volts. I had it set on ohms, however, it could not measure the amount needed and was getting overloaded. Now that I have set the multimeter correctly, I have had no issues with the experiment. I really appreciate all the time you spent to help me.
Thanks,
npatel6
Thank you so much for your suggestions! I realized that I had the multimeter at the wrong setting for collecting volts. I had it set on ohms, however, it could not measure the amount needed and was getting overloaded. Now that I have set the multimeter correctly, I have had no issues with the experiment. I really appreciate all the time you spent to help me.
Thanks,
npatel6