two power supplies, two runs, same tank?

[acidrain]

Always thinking of upgrades, one way to streamline my setup would be to prepare and start a second run after the first one is started...
I could do this with two complete tank setups, or would this work:
Use a second power source with it's own rack in the same tank as the first power source.
Both power sources connected to a common cathode (ideal method for me)? Would I have to run a second cathode?
I don't see a problem with this, but maybe somebody out there has already learned the hard way.

[luminous]

I don't think that will work.
If the anode voltage was always identical on the two supplies, then it would work fine, but any difference in voltage btween the anodes (in the same tank) will also cause a current to flow from one anode to the other in additon to the current from anode(s) to cathode. That's gonna play hell with your 720 calcs at the very least because one supply "steals" current from the other.
If both power supplies are similar, and the work load (sq in) is also similar so that the anode voltages are pretty close to each other through the run, then you might just get away with it. Give it a try and let us know!

Steve

[cameraman]

I think you're more likely to have problems with shadowing. Second thing would be to make sure you don't inadvertently wind up with more aluminum than cathode area, and of course you'll have the potential to create more heat.

The two supplies would fight each other if you connected the anodes, but won't as long as you don't have any shorts anywhere (like racks touching or aluminum from the separate supplies swinging together). You can look up "kirchoff" in a search engine - some of it gets pretty technical but if you look at several different sites you'll get the idear.

[M_D]

It works fine, and you can use common cathodes.

[acidrain]

I'll try an experiment.

[M_D]

We do that all of the time. Sometimes we have multiple racks for different colors, or different type of parts that are prepped differently, and etc. The volts for each power supply remain consistent with what we see for a single power supply.

[acidrain]

Good to know, Thanks MD!