Several years ago, I attempted to run a Cell
directly off of 110 Volt AC. I knew I had to convert the voltage to DC
first, so I rigged up a 20 amp Diode Bridge Rectifier. The rectifier provided
positive pulses on one wire, and negative pulses on another wire. Since
this was a test, I let the Mains 110 VAC 20 amp circuit breaker do the safety
work.
The experiment was on the
"Brute" Cell. There were 12 plates, each 20 inches x 3 inches. The
configuration was +N- +N- +N- +N- . The cell was using well water. When
I applied power, the container immediately bubbled over; with-in 3
seconds, the lights went out. What happened? Oops, the circuit breaker
tripped, and the bridge rectifier burned up. I tried a 50 amp rectifier
and a rheostat with one side wired through a 25 watt light bulb. It
still burned up the rectifier and tripped the circuit breaker.
As it turned out,
electrolyte should not be used when you start your test. Add small
amounts of electrolyte, only after startup produces little to know
electrolysis results.
The problem needed a means
of limiting the current. So I search the www and find this:
According to
the above information, the capacitor needs to be rated for a higher
voltage than the power source. It also needs to be rated at 14
microfarads for each amp of current you plan to allow. In other words, if
the cell is to operate at 10 amps, then a 140 microfarad capacitor would
be needed. It needs to be a Motor Work or Motor Run capacitor, not a
Motor Start or Electrolytic (DC
capacitor). You will find both Motor Start and Motor Run capacitors.
Motor Start capacitors are not meant for continuous operation. They will
not work long. Make sure you get Motor Run capacitors.
The video, below, explains this.
Motor
Capacitor Guide
Note: You are on your own if you
build and test this. I am not responsible for your safety, or lack there of.
Motor Run
Capacitors from Temco Industrial Power
70 and 80 Amp Bridge Rectifiers with Heat Sink, 600 - 1000 Volt
Green Fuel H2O web site
Amazon.com
Bridge Rectifiers convert AC voltage to DC voltage pulses. I have drawn
a red circle around it, in the picture below.
110 Volt Variable AC Voltage Controller
15 Amp
Used to control Routers, Fans, Lights
Use it to control your AC HHO Generator Diode Bridge Rectifier
jNolan75 sells this on ebay.com
Harbor Freight sells them
Power
Transformer Variacs
Different models are available: 1KVA,
3KVA, 5KVA and 10KVA
In order to purchase the
right variac, it is critical that you know the amp usage by your
electronic device. It is always best to be conservative otherwise you
risk destroying the variac; and it can be very dangerous. For example,
if your device requires 5 amps Continuous, buy the variac with up to 10
amps Surge.
* 10 Amps Max
Continuous use
* up to 20 Amps Surge