CC Rectifier

[PeterM]

Thanks alot Fibergeek and Seanc. Im going to check up those regulators and try them out. Otherwise i could go with the manual adjustment, but yes - not needing to stand by the process and turn a knob every now and then would be nice.

[seanc]

You could also add a quick-n-dirty current control using an LM117 family voltage regulator wired as a current limiter.

A single chip & single resistor (or potentiometer) allows you to set current at whatever you need, up to 5 amps.

See the PDF data sheets:

http://www.national.com/ds.cgi/LM/LM117.pdf - 1.5A
http://www.national.com/ds.cgi/LM/LM150.pdf - 3A
http://www.national.com/ds.cgi/LM/LM138.pdf - 5A

[Fibergeek]

Yes, you can mimic CC operation by manually adjusting the current as the anodization proceeds. You must have a reasonably accurate ammeter to monitor the current.

[PeterM]

I have a question about the rectifier issue. I know that a CC rectifier is needed for anodizing, but whats the possibilitys with a none CC rectifier?
The problem is that i have 2 rectifiers already and none of them are CC.
One of them has 2 knobs (for voltage, and ampere) still its not CC.
If I would do a LCD-anodizing and act as CC myself, that is adjusting the Ampere by hand during the process, would that be possible. I could maybe connect a Ampere-meter to the system and check that the ampere is in the right range by adjusting it?

The thing is that I only would like to anodize one small part in a system a build pretty rarely, so i could spend some time adjusting, if that now is possible rather than spending money on another rectifier


Thanks in advance