Hydracell Salt Water Battery

[EEVblog]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1993414184/hydracell

Salt water batteries are thing, the question is the 100 phone charges the video claims, although the info graphic only say 10 charges per plate maximum, so, yeah...

[dunkemhigh]

With one phone, once it's charge up what happens to the cell? Does it just sit there not appreciably degrading (or, at least, no more so than a non-rechargeable cell) or does it just run itself flat - use or lose it, kind of thing? Can you tip the water out to preserve the plate?

You seem to know about this stuff, Dave, and the info wasn't in the kickstarter 

[NANDBlog]

1.) There are LiSOCl batteries that easily can be stored for 10-20 years before usage. A single D cell has 60Wh, about 4 phone charge. That makes this a gimmick.
2.) I cannot believe that they are able to get any reasonable current output from that cell. This is probably similar to a metal-air battery, like the ones used in hearing aids. Once activated, it will generate a steady current for a limited amount of time, use it or lose it.

[Cyberdragon]

1.) There are LiSOCl batteries that easily can be stored for 10-20 years before usage. A single D cell has 60Wh, about 4 phone charge. That makes this a gimmick.
2.) I cannot believe that they are able to get any reasonable current output from that cell. This is probably similar to a metal-air battery, like the ones used in hearing aids. Once activated, it will generate a steady current for a limited amount of time, use it or lose it.

You can could probably get enough current to charge a phone from a water reaction battery, it's way more powerful than an air reaction battery. But it will have the same problems as water activated lanterns/flashlights (ex. Hydra-Light) in that yes, once activated it cannot be stopped (though often stops before fully reacted) and the cells wear out/self degrade easily if not stored or cared for properly (any residual moisture in the device after use or excess humidity will ruin the cell).

Water lights usually only run 2-3 times per cell max. So 100 times or even 10 is absolute