Manual charger for electrolysis

[branimal]

Would something like this be good for running electrolysis to remove rust from metal?

Guy wants $35 for it. Apparently it’s very difficult to find manual chargers these days.

An alternative is to buy a Dc power supply. Or rig up an old computer power supply with alligator clips.

 

[laser3kw]

my neighbor has been using a charger like that to do electrolysis for over a year now. He gets great results. As long as it still works, $35 seems goood

 

[branimal]

my neighbor has been using a charger like that to do electrolysis for over a year now. He gets great results. As long as it still works, $35 seems goood

Thanks. I’ll test it out with my multimeter.

 

[glend123]

that's exactly the one I use. I see them at almost every estate sale and some garage sales.

 

[firebirdparts]

You bet. I guess those were made by Schumacher, but that's just a guess. That is a really nice charger for any purpose. I don't know about the whole "manual hard to find" is true or not. I haven't tried.

 

[The Cobbler]

it's a perfect candidate

 

[branimal]

Thanks guys. Can’t wait to strip some rust off.

 

[sick467]

It would work fine for basic electrolysis in smaller vats (like buckets or storage tubs). How big of an operation are you planning and what are the charging amps of that unit?

 

[dogdog]

Dependents on what you are derusting and what amp that charger is capable of…. Maybe check your lower east side ecology electronic recycling center, that thing $20 but not $35 Or just go eBay Amazon and buy a 24v smps. If 12v a minimum of 5amp capabilities or 24v with 10amp if you are doing large radiators.

 

[branimal]

It would work fine for basic electrolysis in smaller vats (like buckets or storage tubs). How big of an operation are you planning and what are the charging amps of that unit?

It’s says 10/2/50amps on the faceplate.

Some small projects in tubs. But a big project would be stripping rust from the underside of a metal parts cabinet. I have a some cement mixing tubs for that. And a custom made tub with a shower liner bottom.

Another big project would be stripping rust from a cast iron steam radiator.


Picture is the bottom of some metals parts cabinets I picked up. I’d like to remove as much rust off that with electrolysis.

 

[Shiftless]

It would work fine for basic electrolysis in smaller vats (like buckets or storage tubs). How big of an operation are you planning and what are the charging amps of that unit?

I have a very similar charger. It delivers a max of 10 amps continuous. There is a “start” function that you can use for a few seconds to start a car. That function delivers what they say is 50 amps. I have used it but never measured the actual output.

 

[niget2002]

You can buy cheap brand new manual chargers at Walmart for $30.

 

[PelicanPines]

Jeeze... I saw Electrolysis... i thought this thread was going to be about unwanted hair removal. My bad.

Probably means you can use it for plating metal...

 

[matt_i]

You don't need an exotic charger. Just run a 12v battery to the anode and cathode and let the charger keep up with the battery. I think I have a 1 or 2 amp charger that works just fine, derusted a tractor's rim that way, a little at a time.

I do like the Evaporust better, less involvement pre and post treatment but its also slightly more expensive.

 

[Bretny]

Transformer based battery chargers are a bit harder to find as they have mostly gone to smart charging. They do still make onboard RV chargers that are transformer based as well as ham radio power supplies. Generally these start at about $100.

 

[Bretny]

You don't need an exotic charger. Just run a 12v battery to the anode and cathode and let the charger keep up with the battery. I think I have a 1 or 2 amp charger that works just fine, derusted a tractor's rim that way, a little at a time.

I do like the Evaporust better, less involvement pre and post treatment but its also slightly more expensive.

I'm sure evapo rust works really well but the cost to remove rust in a 4gal generator fuel tank could cost more than the machine is worth.

 

[brownbagg]

those cheapy harbor freight chargers work great too

 

[67carl]

I must be missing something- you can buy one of those brand new for the same amount. Are these any different?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ultra-P...2-Volt-Manual-Battery-Charger-35001/301118075

https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...aintainers/26a-612v-manual-charger-56744.html

 

[Stuart in MN]

Those older chargers are generally built like tanks, and should last you forever. $35 is on the high side, but we're not talking about huge amounts of money here...maybe you could find one for $20, but that's only a $15 difference.

 

[Bert_]

Should be $10.

Probably buy a new one for $40

 

[firebirdparts]

I must be missing something- you can buy one of those brand new for the same amount. Are these any different?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ultra-P...2-Volt-Manual-Battery-Charger-35001/301118075

https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...aintainers/26a-612v-manual-charger-56744.html

They are different. If you don't connect the home Depot one to a partially charged battery, it won't come on.

 

[p00p]

They are different. If you don't connect the home Depot one to a partially charged battery, it won't come on.

thats one way to boost the amps up for the process.

 

[laser3kw]

They are different. If you don't connect the home Depot one to a partially charged battery, it won't come on.

yes - anything with "battery recovery", "smart" technology needs to have 10.5~11 volts before they will do a charge routing. I found this out the hard way. Had a lawn and garden battery that was new but sat on the shelf for a couple of years. Had to charge it with a "stupid" charge to get it where the "smart charger" would finish it.

 

[metaleltr]

I'm sure evapo rust works really well but the cost to remove rust in a 4gal generator fuel tank could cost more than the machine is worth.

Evorust is not one time use. After using it to clean that 4 gallon fuel tank it can be poured into a bucket to soak other rusty parts in later.

 

[The Cobbler]

I have not used evaporust . I have seen it used on you-tube tho...
I get fine results with electrolysis , at basically zero cost

 

[branimal]

I have not used evaporust . I have seen it used on you-tube tho...
I get fine results with electrolysis , at basically zero cost

Interesting point. How much does the electric cost? I was wondering if my con Ed bill was going to jump when I start running the process.

 

[driftpin]

What's his wife look-like?

 

[The Cobbler]

I don't know what the electric costs, but very little I suspect.
10 amps @ 12 volt is like 1 amp (120 watts) or less at 120 volts
6 amps would be like 72 watts
( I think)

 

[mikegt4]

I use an old Sears (Schumacher) charger identical to the one in the OP. Works great even for larger items.

 

[p00p]

i wonder what it would take to change out the voltage minimum limiter in a HF unit to make it kick on with lower voltage?

 

[Bert_]

Interesting point. How much does the electric cost? I was wondering if my con Ed bill was going to jump when I start running the process.

Guessing about 100 watts of power used. That would be about 8 amps from a 12v charger.

In my part of the country with electricity at about 12 cents / kw, it would cost just under $0.30 a day.

 

[metalmagpie]

I have done electrolytic derusting for many years. I started out using little Schumacher battery chargers and the like. The problem I had with every one of them is that they are not built for continuous use. After a few days they burn out. I do not recommend these battery chargers.

I bought a real DC power supply about 15 years ago and it has served me well. This one:

https://www.volteq.com/volteq-power...30a-over-voltage-over-current-protection.html

Not cheap, but a very good tool. I have found it to be well worth the money.

Here is a typical setup in my hobby of restoring machine tools:

Workpiece before:

And after:

The pain of paying for a good tool fades soon. The misery of buying a cheap tool lasts forever.

metalmagpie

 

[boyleged]

I bought both of the harbor freight chargers trying to figure out electrolysis. Neither of them worked, I guess they have circuitry now that only let it work if its connected to a battery. I finally traded my dad for his old charger so I could de-rust old Estwing hatchets and Japanese kitchen knives. Around here $35 is a good price from FB Marketplace or CL

 

[branimal]

I bought both of the harbor freight chargers trying to figure out electrolysis. Neither of them worked, I guess they have circuitry now that only let it work if its connected to a battery. I finally traded my dad for his old charger so I could de-rust old Estwing hatchets and Japanese kitchen knives. Around here $35 is a good price from FB Marketplace or CL

There are some videos on YT on how to hack the HF charger into a manual charger for electrolysis.

 

[branimal]

are both of these chargers considered manual chargers?

I believe the schauer battery charger is manual.

Thanks.

 

[My Old Tools]

Buy a used lab powersupply on eBay and be done.

 

[laser3kw]

are both of these chargers considered manual chargers?

I believe the schauer battery charger is manual.

Thanks.

They look like the are the basic manual type. No extra switches, lights, "recovery mode"