Electrochemistry Power Source

[Grassbur]

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum (well, posting on it) but I have been reading avidly for weeks now.

I was curious to know if anyone has used this to run a small silver cell? Any reason it wont work? I have refined around 3 ozt with it so far and it seems to work fine. It reads 3.2 volts on the 3.5 setting with the multimeter.

I clipped the end of the adapter wires and soldered the positive to a 12 gauge copper which in turn attaches to the anode

The other I soldered and attached a foot of 12 gauge .999 silver wire. I am basically using a slightly modified version of Lazersteve's set up.

Just wanted to make sure that this power source was safe before I keep using it.

Thanks

 

[philddreamer]

Welcome Grassbur!
I've used a similar one. You need 3-4v & .35amps/sq. inch of anode facing the cathode. What size anodes are you using? How many amp's does that unit put out?

If it's worked so far, it must be ok. Just make sure it doesn't overheat & don't leave it unattended especially overnite. Remember, safety first!

Take care & be safe!

Phil

 

[Grassbur]

Welcome Grassbur!
I've used a similar one. You need 3-4v & .35amps/sq. inch of anode facing the cathode. What size anodes are you using? How many amp's does that unit put out?

If it's worked so far, it must be ok. Just make sure it doesn't overheat & don't leave it unattended especially overnite. Remember, safety first!

Take care & be safe!

Phil

Yes i am afraid to leave it for 20 min right now,hence the need for this thread. Not sure on the Amps, I will measure tonight and see.

The Anodes where melted silver cement shots (About 5 blobs which weighed 1.10 ozt) The Cathode was silver wire that I made a loop about an inch across.

I melted the shots into a 1x2 inch piece and I am replacing my previous cathode with 304 stainless. I made it out of 3/8 plate that I cut and insulated. the actual cathode area will be about 3/4 inch x 2inch rectangle.

Sorry if that is confusing.

 

[philddreamer]

After 10 or 15 min. of use, feel if its hot.
Mine, when plugged in, its off any surface & its horizontal. I place on top of it an aluminum radiator from a cpu, & it keeps it much, much cooler for hours. That's for the small cell.
For the half gallon cell, I've been using a 6vDC battery charger for now. The anodes are 2"x2.5" & I expose both sides to the cathodes, I use 2 anodes & cathodes so I have 20sq.in. requiring 7 amp's. You have 2sq.in., one side exposed to the cathode, so you need
.7 amp.

You can use for a cathode, pure silver wire; S.S or hard graphite. I've used S.S., but right now I'm using the graphite.

Some members here use their cells for purity & making thick crystals, (this, by the way, is a much slower process), I use mine for purity & fast deposition. You can go here for more details on it: http://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=11281
And don't worry, its not confusing. GSP took the time to explain things to me a while back & it makes a lot of sense now.

I hope it helps.

Phil

 

[Grassbur]

I also don't care too much about the crystal size or appearance. Only the purity and speed matters to me. I really like the cell you made on the attached post. Once I am more comfortable with smaller quantities then I will surely be building one!

Another quick question, do you make your silver nitrate or buy it?

 

[philddreamer]

I make it. All you need is pure silver crystals, nitric acid & distilled water.
For the cell I believe I needed 4 oz of .999 crystals for the electrolite. I'll check on that. So, save some of the crystals you have for the electrolite.
Keep in mind, you'll also need a lot of scrap silver for this size cell. :mrgreen:

 

[Grassbur]

I saw on Lazersteves DVD the process of making Silver nitrate. I bought 2.5 lab grade liquid for $90. Not sure what normality that is compared to your home made version. But I like the idea of just making it anyways.

 

[philddreamer]

Steve shows in his video the ratio needed. I assume you have a 1 litre cell. Now, you have silver nitrate or just nitric acid? If its silver nitrate, what concentration is it?

 

[butcher]

Well lets look at how we may change the working range and conditions your power supply will operate in, to protect your power source and possibly to prevent it from catching on fire.

A fuse is always a good idea, to keep a short circuit from burning up the power supply.

We can also limit the current the power supply will see, this is our cell, but as we said it can be a dead short, well there is a way that we can change this, we could add a resistor in series with our cell, we would need to calculate its resistance in Ohms and also wattage, with this fixed resistor in series, our maximum current our power supply would see would be limited by this resistor (resistance) even if the cell was a dead short, or both resistances of our fixed resistor and the cells resistance (which varies widely under its different operating conditions.

a varible transformer and or or variac is also a very good tool for power supplys.

If you need help using Ohms law just ask.

A much simpler method is to add a light bulb in series with your cell; this will limit the maximum current, and also give you a visible indicator of your cells operating conditions.

To use the light bulb take say a 6volt truck tail light bulb, hook your positive wire from your power supply to one wire of bulb, the other wire of bulb goes to the anode of your cell, the negative wire of your power supply to the cathode of your cell, now current flows through both your light bulb and the cell, if bulb is dim your cell has a low resistance, if bulb is full on your cell is shorted (but your power supply will still see the light bulbs resistance and not burn up your power supply).

 

[philddreamer]

Thank you Butcher!

 

[Grassbur]

I think I am going to just bite the bullet and acquire this machine. Up to 30v and 20amps. It is only $210 which is not that bad.

 

[philddreamer]

Well, if you're going to get serious about refining silver, might as well get the proper equipment.
Is it new or used?

 

[Grassbur]

Well, if you're going to get serious about refining silver, might as well get the proper equipment.
Is it new or used?

It is new. Yeah we are looking at refining as a supplemental income. We have always bought .999 silver shot from Apmex and poured it into bars, but the profit margin is minimal unless we get a good spot gain. So we are trying our hand in refining sterling scrap to increase said margin!

I really appreciate all your help. I just purchased the power supply, it should be here in a week. I will more then likely be harassing you with Amperage questions soon!

 

[philddreamer]

Did you buy it from this outfit, http://www.mastechpowersupplies.com/mastech-50-v-power-supply-hy5020e.html I think its in the Bay area.

On the amperage, no problem, brother, I'll try to answer any questions; that's what this forum is all about, sharing knowledge & helping each other out.
I'm glad to be of some help!

Phil

 

[Grassbur]

Did you buy it from this outfit, http://www.mastechpowersupplies.com/mastech-50-v-power-supply-hy5020e.html I think its in the Bay area.

On the amperage, no problem, brother, I'll try to answer any questions; that's what this forum is all about, sharing knowledge & helping each other out.
I'm glad to be of some help!

Phil

Yes that is where. I actually got the "EX" model instead of the "E". The EX has a supercharger and twin turbo!

 

[juliencoin]

great thread helped me out. please ask the amperage questions on here for us all to see. i too am new today actually but would really like to refine silver. do you know what the purity is of your current method.