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Help with Electrolysis

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GeneMO

04-17-2007 11:25:47




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I read the posts, went to some internet sites and built a 55 gallon tank with re-bars for electrodes. Put it on a base with wheels the whole bit. My problem. I didn't know much about the washing soda, but bought 4 boxes. Tried to figure out the strength and ended up putting all 4 boxes in about 45-50 gallon. I tried 2 different battery chargers and they will not work on 12 volt, the reset keeps tripping. The one charger has a 6 volt setting at 6 amps. It will hold the charge at 6 volt. I am getting lots of bubbles and it appears to be working. I started it Sunday afternoon. My question is, will the 6 volt work as good as 12? Are we looking for amps or volts? Maybe I mixed the solution too strong and that is why the 12v keeps kicking off?

Thanks in advance, Gene

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Pensfan0770

04-18-2007 08:03:11




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to GeneMO, 04-17-2007 11:25:47  
Where do you guys get your washing soda? I have looked around at a few places and haven't come up with anything. I read that lye works also? Has anybody tried it?



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the Unforgiven

04-17-2007 20:25:08




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to GeneMO, 04-17-2007 11:25:47  
Hey Gene, forget about the rebar if you are cleaning anything bigger than a screwdriver. Your sacrificial anode needs to have more surface area than the rusty part. The small anodes have to be cleaned constantly, and I mean like every hour, if you are going to get anything done. If you get a piece of thin steel sheet and literally line your plastic barrel with it you will have massive surface area, and then you can control the amps you put to it instead of trying to get enough amps to work. And with a lot of surface area I will almost garauntee that it will clean anything that will fit in your tub before the anode needs to be cleaned. And the liner style anode is omni-directional, you don't have to fool around moving your parts to face the anode. It seems to like line-of sight at first, but given time it will work around a lot of corners. If you are cooking an assembly instead of a single part you need to move the connection around on the assembly occasionally, when it cleans the part it is connected to it will break contact with the other parts and stop cleaning them, if you do a stuck hard rod and piston for example and connect to the rod it will eventually stop cleaning the piston and the rod will be super clean, you need to connect to the piston for awhile. I throw most of one box in 50 gallons. I think 6v will work, I use 12, have pulled 60amps for 3 weeks with about a 2X3 piece of a 300 Chrysler hood for an anode, cleaning an Economy engine in a 300 gallon tank. Once made an 8 inch piece of irrigation pipe for a vertical tank and lined it with sheet steel to do a Hopkins and Allen .22 rifle that was rusted solid, ran at 80 amps for a day and a half, when I pulled it out the water was 180 degrees and the rifle looked like fresh machined steel, every piece came apart like it had been screwed together just minutes before. A lot of guys say that it is too much amperage if you are heating the water that much, and they are probably right. I like big old chargers, buy them at garage sales and auctions, and let them run untill they won't run anymore. Keep in mind that you are giving off Hydrogen gas.

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banjo

04-17-2007 19:18:03




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to GeneMO, 04-17-2007 11:25:47  
It is the amperage that does the work, i use 1 box in my 55 gal tank.



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RustyFarmall

04-17-2007 15:31:19




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to GeneMO, 04-17-2007 11:25:47  
I'm still experimenting myself, but so far I have learned that 6 volts is as good as 12. It is the amps that do the job, and the best way I found to increase the amps is by adding more sacrificial anodes "rebar", or in my case, window sash weights.



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GeneMo

04-17-2007 15:56:13




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to RustyFarmall, 04-17-2007 15:31:19  
I bought re bar, then heated it and made a hook to "hook" it over the rim of the barrel, then I welded a short piece of rebar to connect all of the electrodes; I ended up with 8 or 10. A 2x8 across the top, with a hole drilled in it suspends the article in the solution. I get a spark when I connect the ground to the electrode side. I just can't run 12 volt 'cause it trips the reset. I am geting lots of bubbles, even at 6 volt, so I know something is happening. I have the bracket that holds the gauges of a Super H in there.

Thanks Gene

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BF8690

04-17-2007 13:55:59




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to GeneMO, 04-17-2007 11:25:47  
This might sound stupid but what is this contreaption for?



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Mike CA

04-17-2007 15:21:50




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to BF8690, 04-17-2007 13:55:59  
It removes rust. Pretty well, too, from what I've read. I've been thinking of doing it if I have a rusty enough piece.

Google: Electrolytic Rust Removal

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John T

04-17-2007 13:50:45




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to GeneMO, 04-17-2007 11:25:47  
Gene, I dont know the answer buttttt ttttt tt if you go over to the John Deere board and post the question something like "FIT Electroloysis Help" Ol Frank (F-I-T) is the Guru n resident expert on that subject.

John T



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NawlensGator

04-17-2007 12:25:46




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to GeneMO, 04-17-2007 11:25:47  

I'm thinking you only need a cup or less in 50 gal. The resistance might pretty small in a strong solution which increases amps to the trip point with 12 Volts. 6 volts will give you half the amps which is apparantly within the charger capability. Since you've already paid for a strong solution I would stick with 6 volts. To use 12 V you could dump out 1/2 to 3/4 of the solution and fill back up with water, which makes little sense at this point.

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rhouston

04-17-2007 11:57:31




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to GeneMO, 04-17-2007 11:25:47  
I used less than half a box in a 40 gallon tote. I'm not sure why your 12 volt setting is tripping. Could be it is overheating? maybe it sees it as a dead short or you do have a short? is it one of the "smart" kind of chargers? I use an old (30-40 years) charger and have never had an issue. My Son has used a cheap $19 1 amp trickle charger, It seems to cycle either between a high and low charge or on and off. 4 boxes seems excessive but I cannot tell you what issues it would cause if any.

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Karl Hamson

04-17-2007 12:34:19




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to rhouston, 04-17-2007 11:57:31  
I have good results with 1 tablespoon per gallon. I would dump out the water and soda you have now and begin again. Also ensure that your work cannot touch the anode or your charger will trip out as it is seeing a dead short.
Hope this helps
Karl



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GeneMO

04-17-2007 15:38:01




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to Karl Hamson, 04-17-2007 12:34:19  
OK, I think I got the solution too strong. The part to be cleaned did contact the electrodes once, so I know what that does. I think I just over did the washing soda. The charger I am using was purchased in 1976 ( when our shop burned). I think I will drain out about half of the solution and dilute with H20. But I still want to know, what does the work here, Amps or Volts?

Thanks, so much for the advice.

PS Mike in CA Can you help me with my Navy questions? Check your e mail. Thanks,


Gene

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Karl Hamson

04-17-2007 18:36:12




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to GeneMO, 04-17-2007 15:38:01  
I am using a 6 amp, non automatic charger and am getting good results. I am using the 12 volt setting. I usually leave the part in for about 24 hours, pressure wash it and maybe put it back in. You will have to use a small pressure washer or scrub a bit with scotchbrite to get rid of the stuff that has been loosened. If you google "rust removal+electrolysis" you will find a wealth of information on this subject.
Good luck. Karl

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GeneMO

04-18-2007 06:15:54




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 Re: Help with Electrolysis in reply to Karl Hamson, 04-17-2007 18:36:12  
Hey, thanks everyone for all the help. I know a lot more now.


Gene



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