MattF
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 16,045
- Location
- South Yorkshire
Decided to make up a new vat, for testing primarily, as I'm going against the grain and using a metal container, (an old gas tank), rather than using a plastic container. I have a distinct dislike of plastic containers merely because of their fragility, and when they're holding a notable amount of water, I tend to be paranoid about them cracking if they happen to get a knock or suchlike. Not exactly a possible prospect to cherish in the workshop, a container full of electrolyte being dumped on the floor. Photos:
It's been coated with four coats of smooth Hammerite internally, and three coats externally. The plastic grid is there to prevent direct contact from the anodes to the container on the offchance that the paint layers aren't upto the task. The tap assembly is made from the original valve, with the top flange being cut off, (where the hose valve usually locates), and a brass rod being turned to size for a tight push fit and then soft soldered into place to blank it off. The side vent of the valve has been cut off, then drilled and tapped to 1/4" BSP, and then an old inline tap fitted. The relay is a precaution against the canister becoming live, (and in essence then becoming part of the anode, which would cause it to rust away at a rate of knots). It's a normally closed changeover relay, with the feed connected through the normally closed contacts, via an inline 3A fuse, (I'll be using a variable current limiting bench supply, so there should never be anywhere near 3A going through the system anyhows). The coil is connected to the canister on one side, via the bolt securing the relay. If the canister becomes live, it should disconnect the feed to the system, in theory. Not a perfect safeguard, but better than none. The anodes are graphite/carbon plates, which were salvaged from an old extractor fan assembly.
It had some water popped in and left overnight to check that the tap assembly doesn't leak, (it doesn't), and it will be getting a full blown test come tomorrow. Going to try it with bicarb instead of washing soda too. Never been impressed with how much other crap is in that stuff, so thought I'd initially try the system with the weaker, though purer, cousin of sodium carbonate based washing powders this time around. So, come tomorrow, I'll either be chuffed as punch else redesigning this system.
It's been coated with four coats of smooth Hammerite internally, and three coats externally. The plastic grid is there to prevent direct contact from the anodes to the container on the offchance that the paint layers aren't upto the task. The tap assembly is made from the original valve, with the top flange being cut off, (where the hose valve usually locates), and a brass rod being turned to size for a tight push fit and then soft soldered into place to blank it off. The side vent of the valve has been cut off, then drilled and tapped to 1/4" BSP, and then an old inline tap fitted. The relay is a precaution against the canister becoming live, (and in essence then becoming part of the anode, which would cause it to rust away at a rate of knots). It's a normally closed changeover relay, with the feed connected through the normally closed contacts, via an inline 3A fuse, (I'll be using a variable current limiting bench supply, so there should never be anywhere near 3A going through the system anyhows). The coil is connected to the canister on one side, via the bolt securing the relay. If the canister becomes live, it should disconnect the feed to the system, in theory. Not a perfect safeguard, but better than none. The anodes are graphite/carbon plates, which were salvaged from an old extractor fan assembly.
It had some water popped in and left overnight to check that the tap assembly doesn't leak, (it doesn't), and it will be getting a full blown test come tomorrow. Going to try it with bicarb instead of washing soda too. Never been impressed with how much other crap is in that stuff, so thought I'd initially try the system with the weaker, though purer, cousin of sodium carbonate based washing powders this time around. So, come tomorrow, I'll either be chuffed as punch else redesigning this system.