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But if your power supply does not feature an ammeter, you can determine when the current level is too high by the electrolyte's hot temperature. Using an ammeter built into the car battery charger is the best means to control the current because the ammeter gives a useful indication of the actual current flowing (see details below). So when the current is reaching a dangerous level, one must act quickly to reduce it back to acceptable levels.Ĭontrolling the Current Without an Ammeter When the current flow is far too high, excessive anode erosion will also occur. Increasing the current will certainly ensure faster derusting of an object however, amperage, just like voltage, must be kept below dangerous levels in order to protect the electrical wires, connections and the power supply from overheating or short-circuiting. The amperage (amount of electric current) usually increases and decreases during the process as the amount of current that your electrolytic setup draws depends on any the following six factors:ġ) Power supply voltage - the greater the voltage, the stronger the amperage (more current) Ģ) Size of iron object being derusted (cathode) - the larger the surface area of an object, the more current passes through it ģ) Size of “waste” electrode (anode) - the larger the surface area of an anode, the more current passes through it Ĥ) Amount of rust on anode and cathode - the more rust (non-conductive material) on anode or cathode, or on both - the less current passes through the setup ĥ) Distance between anode and cathode - the shorter the distance, the stronger the current Ħ) Concentration of electrolyte - the stronger the electrolyte (only up to ideal concentration - see details in "How To Make Electrolyte" section on page 15) the stronger the amperage (more current) In any case, the car battery charger, as a part of the electrolysis machine, MUST have two operational voltage modes - 12v and 24v, for voltage/current control.ĭepending on a size of the iron object or the number of iron objects being derusted, the optimal amperage for the electrolytic rust removal ranges from 5 to 15 Amps. The voltage of 12 volts DC can be used for electrolysis if the amperage level is maintained above 5 Amps. The lower the voltage, the lower the current, the longer it will take to derust an iron object. Voltages above 24 volts DO NOT really offer any greater efficiency, and generally cause the energy to get wasted as heat off the electric wires and in the electrolytic solution.ĭO NOT use 120V or 220V AC household circuits - "wall circuit", "house circuit", or any type of mains circuit, for electrolysis under any circumstances! Attempting to do so could be fatal! Besides, the electrolysis does not work with AC current (alternating current). The process of electrolytic removal of rust works best with 24 volts DC supplied by a car battery charger. it does not take more time than necessary to derust an iron object.
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Controlling voltage and current also ensures that your electrolytic setup remains effective throughout the process, i.e.
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Voltage/Current Control, Hydrogen Embrittlement, Energy Wasted as HeatĢ) How To Control Voltage and Current During ElectrolysisĬontrolling voltage and current during electrolysis is essential for achieving good results without wasting energy through excessive heat, or overheating the power supply. Electrolytic Rust Removal - a Detailed Illustrated Tutorial, page 23 4.