[SEL] Re: Electrolysis - Summary of Responses

[kerogas at sbcglobal.net]

> Power requirements seem to be very modest, with pretty much any small DC
supply
> being suitable, and current draw depending more on distance between the
anodes
> and objects being descaled than almost anything else.

Size does matter , the bigger the anode the higher the amps of
because more surface area on the part will be actively cleaning .
Using bolts and chain and the like for anodes works in a hole , but  you
need many for the
piston with rings you found under the adjcacent windmill , and all those
connection is a drag
I am a fan of the full circ. scrap sheet steel anode . have had good luck
with
expanded metal grating as well . But it is seldom free nor easy to bend
around my part
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> Paint and grease removal surprised me a little, but I assume that the
> electrolysis gets at rust underneath these deposits and loosens them off,
rather
> than the solution/process getting at them directly?

It will sorta , but doesnt want to , everything goes in the solvent tank
first , and gets brushed and hosed off  .
Oil and grease are counter to conductivity , ask any transformer
manufacturer .
Thats how you mess up your carb dip acid as well , by sticking gunked up cyl
heads
and part after part of cosmoline packed WW2 army surplus harley parts .
sorry dad  .
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> "One note, make sure there is no other metals in the solution besides cast
iron,
> steel or sheet metal, brass, copper, aluminum and babbit will stop the
process
> and make a mess (from experience) "

I m not sure what happened , havent had the same bad experience .
 Maybe it was the electrolyte used . Want to hear more !
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> Andy Nicholson used a 28V supply, running at about 6amps on his setup, and
Bill
> Dickerson's trailer chassis example on his website used an 80V welder
power
> source, so voltage is not too critical. Use of excessive current just
warms up
> the solution and causes more gassing, with no apparent increase in the
rust
> removal rate.


If you want to sink an entire 100 horse Hornsby , and all the guns from a
sunken ship
at the same time , then charger you nabbed would be just the ticket .
How low is "low voltage " ?
A 10a  battery charger is enough to do a hopper cylinder on a
10 horse engine with a 3x3 ' anode .


Chuck