Rectitier

[-AAPB-Eric]

well, I have been reading up on anodizing for 3 months now. Have gotten info from USpecialty corp, Ron Newman, other published books, and from Caswell. The lead content of the cathodes where bothering me some due to higher heat the lead based cathodes radiated (USpecialty corp). Ron Newman also suggested 2 alloy types in the 6000 range, I picked one up and tried to use that.

My copper wire is extra long! From university physics, I know the resistance of a wire is negletable in problem solving based questions, but maybe here in this instance it could mean the difference. My rectifier is cradled. I have a wooden box insulated with syrofoam put in a metal casing. Ill admit my wiring was a tad sloppy as per I already took on an anodizing job and wanted to run my test peices and the customers marker though in time. Maybe the wire is touching the metal casing and giving some problems?!?

I am running 4 cathodes, each a Square Foot in size, but only 3/4 is actually in the bath. (so total approx 3 SF total cathode)

ill post some pics:

[sswee]

I read most of all that also when I first started. Then was lucky enough to be able to talk with Fibergeek. He helped me straighten out my start up problems.

You said you were attempting a run of 1.5 SF of SA, what was the amperage you were trying to use on that batch?

Watch out changing too many things at once, it could make it hard to tell where the real problem is.

SS

[-AAPB-Eric]

[-AAPB-Eric]

[-AAPB-Eric]

Originally Posted by sswee

I read most of all that also when I first started. Then was lucky enough to be able to talk with Fibergeek. He helped me straighten out my start up problems.

You said you were attempting a run of 1.5 SF of SA, what was the amperage you were trying to use on that batch?

Watch out changing too many things at once, it could make it hard to tell where the real problem is.

SS

Well we wanted to go for 9ASF (yes i know what is suggested is 6). So we calculated 15amps for the duration of the test. The volt meter would climb but not the amp meter. I created a short and the amp meter jumped up! So the rectifier is working. I created shorts along my connections to test them out. Outside the tank, where my cathodes are I tested that and they all caused the amp meter to jump up (so connection is there). Same with my rack (tested about 12 different spots in total). I was getting flustered so I put my aligator clip that should attach to my parts in the bath where my parts were located...no reading on the amp meter. But the closer and closer I put the aligator clip towards the nearest cathode the higher the amp meter would climb. I was pressed for $$ so yes I made some short cuts as you can see in the connections...they seem to be completing a curcuit though. (tomorow I will buy proper materials).

Ron suggested that no amps will draw in the cold. Maybe my thermometer is off, but it was cold near freezing point here. Thats one thing I could think of maybe giving me a false state of bath temp.

I am using 2 of the agitators, with extra air pump.

BTW what wire (guage) should I get to properly hook up my rectifier?

[sswee]

Tank set up looks good. I'd recommend at least a 12g wire for your cathode hook ups. I used the aligator clips at first but it don't take much natural oxide on the alum. to cause connection problems. From the pics, you just need to refine your set up a little. What are you using for agitation?
SS

[-AAPB-Eric]

Originally Posted by sswee

Tank set up looks good. I'd recommend at least a 12g wire for your cathode hook ups. I used the aligator clips at first but it don't take much natural oxide on the alum. to cause connection problems. From the pics, you just need to refine your set up a little. What are you using for agitation?
SS

12g insulated copper I pick up tomorow! I could have too much oxide on the actual plates since they did have a buildup of the chauky white acid residue (left them in the tank for 1 day to build up the dissolved AL content), Ill rub down with some steel wool and see if that makes a difference.

Yes, so far we have been spending 3 weeks on cleaning up my cluttered garage and setting up the buffing, ano tanks etc. The tank will soon have some Ti racks and all Ti wires for the connections to help eliminate lost connections (cant really use the sput welder since the parts need to be in prime condition). The agitation so far are 2 of the caswell agitatiors. I really like them so ill pick up 2 more so 1 for each corner. I have some 120 L aquarium airpumps that are ok at pumping out bubbles, ill leave those for my dye tanks.

[sswee]

I run 8 ASF at 60 degrees on the parts I do to get a smaller pore size and keep the run time to 90 minutes for a 1 mil coating. I use 10g multi-strand automotive wire. My leads off my CC PS are 5 ft long.
SS

[-AAPB-Eric]

well! I can't thank you enough SSWEE!!

Ill get on that, try what you suggested out and hopefully my kink will rub out.

Thanksss!!!!!!

Eric.

[-AAPB-Eric]

hmmmm...I just remembered this. I read somewhere that some of the sheet metal that are used for cathodes have some film on them and that you need to take that off. I dont remember if I tested it with my multimeter, today Im system tweaking to solve this problem!