Electrochemistry Copper refining cell with powersupply

[DaniH]

Hi everyone.
I am looking to prepare a power supply for copper refining cell. Small/lab scale.
details of powersupply are in pics. I need guide from start

First thing
Which voltage will be suitable , 3.3 , 5, 12
Which color wires are 3.3, 5 and 12 volt?
To turn on power supply green wire can be connected to any black wire?

 

[Yggdrasil]

Hi everyone.
I am looking to prepare a power supply for copper refining cell. Small/lab scale.
details of powersupply are in pics. I need guide from start

First thing
Which voltage will be suitable , 3.3 , 5, 12
Which color wires are 3.3, 5 and 12 volt?
To turn on power supply green wire can be connected to any black wire?

Even if it can be used this is a PC ATX power supply and not very recommended for this use.
You need a proper regulated power supply that can keep constant Voltage or constant Amperage.
Then you can adjust to the level suitable for your cell.

 

[Shark]

While that power supply may work for small scale, it isn’t the best as Yggdrasil mentioned. But, if you use it, and I have, you need one that has a built in on/off switch. The supplies that don’t have these switch’s will be dead if ever shorted out. The one with a switch can be restarted by flipping the switch off and back on. This isn’t 100% but the odds are very high it will work this way, and will be enough to learn the basics. A proper power supply will be better and more precise.

 

[DaniH]

Even if it can be used this is a PC ATX power supply and not very recommended for this use.
You need a proper regulated power supply that can keep constant Voltage or constant Amperage.
Then you can adjust to the level suitable for your cell.

Thanks man, but its just for to test and start. I am a man of disasters, still have to manage anode bags and much more. So its just a try to start

While that power supply may work for small scale, it isn’t the best as Yggdrasil mentioned. But, if you use it, and I have, you need one that has a built in on/off switch. The supplies that don’t have these switch’s will be dead if ever shorted out. The one with a switch can be restarted by flipping the switch off and back on. This isn’t 100% but the odds are very high it will work this way, and will be enough to learn the basics. A proper power supply will be better and more precise.

Thanks alot, i know its not perfect but need guide only to take a start, only few hours a day.

 

[FrugalRefiner]

First thing
Which voltage will be suitable , 3.3 , 5, 12
Which color wires are 3.3, 5 and 12 volt?
To turn on power supply green wire can be connected to any black wire?

In general, the orange wires are 3.3v, red are 5v, and yellow are 12v. Dell has its own scheme. You can find these pinouts on the internet. There are plenty of good web sites/videos on how to adapt them as bench power supplies. Always check the voltage with a VOM to be sure.

Dave

 

[Shark]

Choose the wire and set your anode/cathode size to match the proper wires voltage and amps. There is some older threads on the forum as well as the many found on the internet.

 

[Master Nater]

i would say the easiest way to tell is power it up, grab your multimeter, and start to check what the plugs are putting out. i'd recommend adding some fusing to keep from melting things down. in fact, most in-line amperage multimeters have fusing built-in to protect itself. doing thigns this way, you will also know what your amperage is at any given time. here's a pic of one for $26 on amazon and how to run it on amperes AC/DC. it says it has a 10a fuse built in, but you could replace with anything smaller that you would like for overcurrent protection. Good luck!

 

[Shark]

Here is look at one used when I first started working with copper cells. I learned quite a lot while using an old computer power supply.

https://goldrefiningforum.com/threads/electrolytic-copper-refining-cell.24397/post-259391

 

[DaniH]

Here is look at one used when I first started working with copper cells. I learned quite a lot while using an old computer power supply.

https://goldrefiningforum.com/threads/electrolytic-copper-refining-cell.24397/post-259391

So can you tell what was voltage you choose and what was anode cathode size?
Also inform can i use an outside swith between green and black wire?

Which fuse is batter to install.?

Not an expert in electronics, so do not angry if i say some un necessary/foolish questions

 

[orvi]

PC ATX power supply is great to produce high current low voltages, and it is many times free - so many use it. However, as it was stated above, you will need some means to regulate voltage and current. This will improve selectivity and also efficacy of the electrowining.

Buy modular DC-DC stepdown converter, rated for amperage that you will need. Below 15A ones are cheap, and you can easily get one for less than 10 USD online on sites like Aliexpress or eBay. With this, you will be able to hook it up to 12V terminal of power supply and regulate the voltage or current as you wish (obviously only 12V and less).

 

[DaniH]

PC ATX power supply is great to produce high current low voltages, and it is many times free - so many use it. However, as it was stated above, you will need some means to regulate voltage and current. This will improve selectivity and also efficacy of the electrowining.

Buy modular DC-DC stepdown converter, rated for amperage that you will need. Below 15A ones are cheap, and you can easily get one for less than 10 USD online on sites like Aliexpress or eBay. With this, you will be able to hook it up to 12V terminal of power supply and regulate the voltage or current as you wish (obviously only 12V and less).

Thanks. A 30 amp 15 volte regulated ractifier is avail to me. Before using that one, i want test the cell once to do some small tests.

Isnt there any mathod to add a regulater for voltages in power supply?
Amps will work according to ankde size.

 

[DaniH]

i would say the easiest way to tell is power it up, grab your multimeter, and start to check what the plugs are putting out. i'd recommend adding some fusing to keep from melting things down. in fact, most in-line amperage multimeters have fusing built-in to protect itself. doing thigns this way, you will also know what your amperage is at any given time. here's a pic of one for $26 on amazon and how to run it on amperes AC/DC. it says it has a 10a fuse built in, but you could replace with anything smaller that you would like for overcurrent protection. Good luck!


View attachment 62691

Thanks, i have one too, i wish i could setup same in powersupply cables.
Modifieng powersupply , will share after finishing it

 

[DaniH]

here is what i did. Saperate fround, 3 v, 5 v and 12 v wires
As orvi said to use Dc to Dc step down module, its faar from me , may take a week to reach but its said to be not capable as described with product.



I want know about these wires,


What extra , i can add for power supply safety , i have seen when output wires are short circut, power supply turns off. And i have to off and on the new installed button

 

[FrugalRefiner]

Dani, do a Google search for ATX pinout. You'll find plenty of explanations about what the various colored wires are for.

As far as keeping them from shorting out, clip the ends off the wires so there is no bare wire showing. Then cap them with wire nuts, heat shrink tubing, electrical tape, or something similar.

Dave

 

[DaniH]

Please have a look.

https://goldrefiningforum.com/threads/ideas-on-building-a-rectifier-transformer.4129/