Electrolysis current question.

[Tommy Harris]

I picked up a Schumacher manual charger.   I ha e it hooked to my setup.  I have a plate of sheet metal on each side tied together with some romex wire.  The copper wire is up out of the solution.  I then have the pans hanging in the center.   My question is this.  On the gauge, it only ever reads 7-9 amps.  Now I understand that these aren't super accurate gauges, but it seems low considering I have it set on the 30A setting.  It is an analog gauge.  Is this normal?

[Tommy Harris]

As I posted this, it dawned on me that I am using a relatively light weight wire to hang the pans.   That is my choke point, isn't it?  :)   now I need to find a heavier wire to hang the pans, and I bet I double my current.   

[Cheryl Watson]

That is quite possible.  The wire you are using, must be rated above the amps you want it to carry.  The other thing here is, that the meter on the battery charger will most likely never give an accurate read, because the electro does not generate the  'resistance' that a battery with 'cells' would yield.  I run at 20 Amps, and am happy if the meter reads above 10-15.  Now other factors will be the mass of the piece being cleaned.  The larger the piece, the higher the amps shown on the meter.  Also, the more Washing Soda, the higher the amps...  Lots of factors come into the mix.  :D

[Tommy Harris]

Good deal.   That's what I kind of figured on the resistance.   So it sounds, without accurate measurement, that I am probably running where I should be. I swapped out the wire for some heavier gauge stuff and it still reads the same.    I only had a #3 skillet and a cornstick pan in there.    I'm getting ready to rig up a #11 breakfast griddle in there.   Hopefully that will yield a little boost.  Muhahahahaha ;D

[Jeff Friend]

Tommy,

Yes, lots of factors come into the mix.  But it really comes down to two basic things:  the voltage of the power supply and the resistance of the circuit.  If you are not getting the current flow you want, you have too much resistance somewhere.  Start looking at your connections, keeping in mind that you need a really solid connection to conduct 10 to 20 amps.  A poor connection results in excessive resistance.  If you are simply hanging your pans from a piece of bent wire, that could be your problem.

I would suggest that you get your electrolysis system running they way you think it should run with just one piece of cast iron.  Trying to clean two or three pans at a time introduces variables that complicate the situation you are trying to understand.

Now, Tommy, you may want to take a look at this thread.  There is some BS you'll have to wade through.  I just read it again and got some chuckles from a few posts.
http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1450901822/all

Let me know when you're done.  There will be a quiz. ;D

[C. Perry Rapier]

I went back and reread that thread. It gave me a headache then and it still gives me a headache. I don't understand any of it. But I know to make an electro and how to make it work good.  8-) ;D

[Cheryl Watson]

Crossed mine too... allover again............  :P :P