The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Electrolytic Power Source?

Id like to find a permanent power source for my electrolysis tank and was hoping you guys can shoot me some ideas. Id like to find something that could be devoted to this purpose and this purpose only.

My little battery chargers arent keeping up with the large parts and I dont like the options on the larger more expensive charging units.

Ive read somewhere about using a small stick welder machine as a power supply, but I dont know if that would be a suitable candidate.

Any ideas out there???

Thanks, Jeff

I've thought about a DC stick welder too and don't see why it wouldn't work.

I wish I had room for a full cab sized tank.

Waiting too.

Maybe I should just run down to Home Depot and grab the cheapest welder they got!

Oh c'mon! This didnt need to be moved to the tool section!

I aint looking for a tool.

Im looking for a power source to aid in the restoration and/or preservation of of my pre-73 truck related parts!

Sheesh...

use anything that supplies a few amps of 12v power, get a better battery charger, use a train power transformer ... if you're only using one anode that might be why it's slow, doesn't take a lot of amps but large parts need more than one anode, the process is sorta 'line of sight'

and yeah, yer talkin tools, not trucks

Bill

If I understand the process requirements, I think you would want a constant current power supply, like used on a DC stick welder. A constant voltage power supply, like used on a MIG welder might not work. The only problem I see with using a welder is that the open current voltage is anywhere from 40 to 80 volts and I am not sure if this high voltage would cause problems or not.

Have you considered a heavy duty battery charger? Another option might be to use an electric motor to drive an alternator for DC power.

I use old bench seat frames as my anodes. Ive got a stack sitting on a pallet out back and I grab every one I can lay my hands on! They give great surface area and provide a lot of the 'line of sight' method. The last seat frame lasted forever and I took it out and smacked it on the ground to knock the rusted portions off. It took 3 times of doing that before it collapsed on me.

The reason I asked about a power source was that when I put small parts in I usually have it on a trickle charge and the needle on the charger has a reasonable output. Recently I tanked my COEs front axle and it pegged the needle out, worked for several minutes, then the safety kicked on, charger turns off for 5 minutes, then kicks back on. Repeat, repeat, repeat...

When I derusted the rear axle it didnt have that high of an output, so I wonder if it has something to do with the mass of the object in question and less to do with the actual surface area of the part? As I pulled the axle up, needle goes down. Fully submerged, needle goes up until pegged.

So now Id like to find some electrical device capable of withstanding my abusive needs! The rear axle took somewhere around 72 hours to derust completely. the front axles taken twice that due to the charger kicking off.

Ive also tried another charger, with a battery in tandem (and in series) to see if that would help, again on a trickle charge. It typically worked longer, but again it still kicked off at a certain point. Ive already checked and made sure there is no way the anode and electrode could be touching and causing a short.

So, yet again I arrive back to the power source.

Thanks for the input!

Jeff

Oh yeah, if Im using body tools to do body work but have a question about the method, it aint a tool question! I could see it being moved to the paint and body section, but not here. But, ya know what they say about opinions...

how about a variable power supply that has adjustments for voltage and amperage, the ham radio operators use them to power their equipt, and they are about the same price as a good battery charger. I have a 30 amp unit, but haven`t tried it yet Mike Bourg

Check out this forum, smokstak especially Franz's comments. Here's he talks about the formula for the solution, the use of a graphite anode and the use of a forklift 24 volt battery charger.

See this