Home anodizing issues

[Kielbasavw]

So I'm trying to anodize a part. And having some issues.

I have a bucket mixed with a gallon distilled water and 25oz sulfuric acid I have my part hanging with 3/32 stainless wire. I have a piece 3x2 aluminum square tube for the negative.
Here is my problem
I've tried several different power supplies. 2 battery chargers and a 12v battery. They all give too much amps. I can set my charger to 12v 2amp and the machine reads 50 amps! Things get hot and acid solution turns yellow.

I currently have a small 12v charger that charges at 4 amps. It will peg the dial for a couple seconds and shut off for about 5-10 seconds and turn itself back on.

If I hook that same charger up to a battery it will read a constant 4 amps.

What gives?

 

[risc]

Ohms Law. You need a constant current rather than a constant voltage supply.

 

[Kielbasavw]

I've read many tutorials and videos. Alot of people use battery chargers 12v at around 5-10 amps. And it ends up reading ~3 amps. Mine is doing the complete opposite and multiplying the amps.

 

[Cobra5150]

Make sure the part isn't touching the aluminum.

 

[Kielbasavw]

Definitely not touching

 

[mburrus]

a LARGE high power resistor should limit the current... assuming 12 volts, you need a 2.4 ohm resistor rated at 60 watts to limit current to 5 amps.

if youre pushing 50 amps through it, either your solution is super conductive, acting like a battery (somehow?) or you have a short in there somehow...