Electro Amperage

D

DaleR

Member
I set up my tank per Doug's recommendations on the website but I had a question. I followed the recommended amount of Super Wash, but I noticed that the more I added the more amps I got. I am positioning my pan close to the anode and adding extra Super Wash and getting about 8 amps...is this optimal? Does the extra Super Wash affect the process?

---------- Post added at 09:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:53 PM ----------

Rather, does the extra Super Wash HURT the process?
 
Often, too strong an electrolyte solution can cause heat problems which can become detrimental to your charger wires. So, yes, more is not better in this case. 8 amps is an effective current level.
 
I think I may have added a little too much Super Wash to mine. When the water level dropped (cleaning many parts in a row, plus 90° + temps), I added more water plus a bit more Super Wash since cleaning seemed to be taking longer than I thought it should.

Then I replaced my steel anodes with graphite. That turned my tank into a virtual Jacuzzi!! And the water, the part being cleaned, and the battery cable clamp get really hot! Hot enough that the PVC pipe I was using to hang parts got hot and drooped. Also noticed on the last skillet I cleaned that while on the 10A setting, the meter read about 15A.

So I guess I should remove a bit of the solution and replace with straight water.
 
So it seems my high amperage and heat problems was in fact the result if a too high concentration of washing soda. I removed a gallon of solution and replaced it with a gallon of clean water, and both the amperage and temperature dropped!

But it is still a little cleaning jacuzzi!
 
You may want to refer to this post and this link that talk specifically about amperage.


http://www.castironcollector.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4414&postcount=9

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm

He feels that higher amperage is not necessarily better and in some cases amy cause damage to the piece. Since I read this article I have changed to carbon graphite anodes and dropped my voltage to 6 volts and my amperage between 2-3 amps.

I can't say I noticed any real issues when I was using steel or iron anodes, but they sure did corrode away quickly. I also needed to clean them frequently to dislodge the rusty scale and get to bare metal again, which was a pain! (to maintain good conductivity).

The solution is also much cleaner using carbon anodes.

Hope this helps!
 
What are you using for the carbon graphite anode? I'm interested in trying this out myself, just not sure how to source the material.
 
I got mine on eBay. I searched for graphite bars, and ended up buying about 20 scrap bars that are 5/16" thick, 1-1/2" wide and 16" long. I just checked them last week after running about 50 pieces of CI through ye tank and they are still going strong.
 
BobN said:
I got mine on eBay. I searched for graphite bars, and ended up buying about 20 scrap bars that are 5/16" thick, 1-1/2" wide and 16" long. I just checked them last week after running about 50 pieces of CI through ye tank and they are still going strong.
Click to expand...
I also got mine on ebay, but here is a commercial source for 3/4 x 12" rods at a decent price:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#7979a19/=tgugz4

Here is an ebay search for graphite with some good choices:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_sop=15&_nkw=graphite+block&_frs=1

There isn't any magic to them being round, they can be any shape. If you do round, then you want the rods at least 3/4" diameter so you have enough surface area.


While we are on the topic, checkout this post on a woodworkers forum on restoring old tools. Very novel idea he has for mounting them!

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?219432-Saw-Restoration-Carbon-electrode-Electrolysis-Foiling

---------- Post added at 05:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:26 PM ----------
BobN said:
I got mine on eBay. I searched for graphite bars, and ended up buying about 20 scrap bars that are 5/16" thick, 1-1/2" wide and 16" long. I just checked them last week after running about 50 pieces of CI through ye tank and they are still going strong.
Click to expand...
What did you pay for the bars? That seems like a good size with better surface area than my 3/4" bars (or maybe mine are 1"...)
 
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