Shopsmith Forums

Thanks for the pictures and info, hohenfelsjoe. I have an old PC power supply I have set aside to convert into a "lab" power supply that would also run the electrolysis bath. I've snipped off the connectors and bound the like colored wires together, but that's as far as I've gotten with it.

dusty wrote:Are you saying that you believe the process will work with only a 5 volt supply? I didn't say in my post that I was contemplating two 5 volt supplies but I don't have a 12 volt that will handle the current levels being discussed.

5 volts will work fine. It will take longer but in the end will perform identically. The process works at low voltage / low amp just as well. Time is the only variable.

heathicus wrote:Thanks for the pictures and info, hohenfelsjoe. I have an old PC power supply I have set aside to convert into a "lab" power supply that would also run the electrolysis bath. I've snipped off the connectors and bound the like colored wires together, but that's as far as I've gotten with it.

If you need any help, please Post or PM me. I'll be more than happy to help.

hohenfelsjoe wrote:If you need any help, please Post or PM me. I'll be more than happy to help.

I have a couple of old computers that still have their power supplies and this seems like a great way to get some additional use out of them.

I would love to see a "how to" with pictures on how to make the conversion.

dusty wrote:Are you saying that you believe the process will work with only a 5 volt supply? I didn't say in my post that I was contemplating two 5 volt supplies but I don't have a 12 volt that will handle the current levels being discussed.

You said, and I quote "More specifically, I have two 5 volt 12 amp regulated dc power supplies that I have been carrying around for years. I suspect that one would not do the trick but if I connected the two in series (outputs in series) would I have a suitable source?"

That sure looks to me like you were contemplating two 5 volt supplies. And since you said you were considering connecting them in series, I addressed that point as well.

Would a 5 volt supply work? Sure. I've used a 6 volt charger with fine results. Yes, 12 volts does better, but the lower voltage didn't do badly at all. Voltage all by itself isn't very critical, amperage is. Don't know what your power source amperage capacity is, but the voltage is adequate.

Current does the 'work'.

Voltage controls the current for a given 'load' condition.

The bigger the parts, the more current 'drawn'.

The bigger the parts, the less current/area with a given current.

And then there is the 'conductivity' of the electrolyte.

Any current will get the job done(smaller current just takes longer).

i.e. There are no 'pat' answers.

JPG40504 wrote:Current does the 'work'.

Voltage controls the current for a given 'load' condition.

The bigger the parts, the more current 'drawn'.

The bigger the parts, the less current/area with a given current.

And then there is the 'conductivity' of the electrolyte.

Any current will get the job done(smaller current just takes longer).

i.e. There are no 'pat' answers.

We start with water and add soda to create the electrolyte. If greater conductivity is required does that mean "add soda".

There must be a more scientific way. I better go do some reading. I know you guys would not leave this detail to the imagination.

dusty wrote:We start with water and add soda to create the electrolyte. If greater conductivity is required does that mean "add soda".

There must be a more scientific way. I better go do some reading. I know you guys would not leave this detail to the imagination.

The addition of more soda will not increase the conductivity unless the solution is not fully saturated. The 'dosage' of a tablespoon of soda/gallon should achieve saturation(All the soda the water can absorb has been absorbed).

JPG40504 wrote:If you have an ammeter with the proper range(up to 10A) I would be interested in what the current flow is and the other details(what being operated on, separation of electrodes, size of anode...) using a 5v regulated supply.
Pix would suffice!
TIA

The electrolysis process is underway. Pictures will have to come later. I was too anxious to see something happen to take pictures....BAD.

I am waiting but with lower expectations than I had thought. The soda that I am using is Arm and Hammer from the laudrey section at the grocery store but it is NOT label "Laundry Soda". It is called "Activated Baking Soda". We'll see.

I am not using the 5 volt supplies right now. I came across a battery charger that was harvested from a wrecked RV. It provides 12 volts.

Right now, with only a pair of tin snips hanging on the anode, the system is drawing 2.6 amps at 11.8 volts.

The cathode is a piece of flat iron about 6"x6".

dusty wrote:The electrolysis process is underway. Pictures will have to come later. I was too anxious to see something happen to take pictures....BAD.

I am waiting but with lower expectations than I had thought. The soda that I am using is Arm and Hammer from the laudrey section at the grocery store but it is NOT label "Laundry Soda". It is called "Activated Baking Soda". We'll see.

I am not using the 5 volt supplies right now. I came across a battery charger that was harvested from a wrecked RV. It provides 12 volts.

Right now, with only a pair of tin snips hanging on the anode, the system is drawing 2.6 amps at 11.8 volts.

The cathode is a piece of flat iron about 6"x6".

My 'washing soda' has a caution on the side of the box that says 'CAUTION contains sodium carbonate . . .

Does yours have a similar warning? If so, what says it!

BTW It resembles simmering rather than 'boiling'. Once the precipitate starts floating on the electrolyte, you will have no doubt something is happening!

Do not expect to see shiney metal. It will be dull black oxide with darker splotches where pitting was.