Every one ask: Who invented the potato clock?

noreply@blogger.com (hafiz89) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:22:00 +0000

William A. Borst invented the potato clock in 1983. He was helping his step daughter with a science project when he remembered a high school physics demonstration where a battery was formed by inserting two metal probes into a potato. After recreating that demonstration, he was looking for some electrical device that could be powered by such a small amount of energy. He found a digital clock module in his workshop that required a very small amount of current but the required voltage was greater that a single "potato battery" could supply. He then connected two of the spuds in series to increase the voltage supplied to the clock module. It worked. He was able to operate the digital clock module using two potatoes.

At the time all this took place, William was a partner in an auto repair business. Wondering how long one of the Potato Clocks would run, he setup an experiment to test the longevity of the spud batteries. While this test was going on, a customer who happened to work for a local newspaper came into the repair shop. After inquiring about the unusual clock there at the shop, the local paper ran a story about it. This story ultimately went out oj the national wire services and the Potato Clock story was out.

He never made much money on this product but enjoyed the attention that it brought to him for a time. The rights to manufacture ended up with Skilcraft Corporation who manufactures the clock today under the name of "The Two Potato Clock".

who invented the potato clock

Every one ask: Who invented the potato clock?