Anodizing Power Supply Question

RobPhill33 · 26th February 2003, 11:25 PM

I thought that it would be easy to build a power supply for anodizing aluminum, as seen here.http://www.caswellplating.com/supplies/rect.htm
I want to make the 12V @ 50A PS. However, I can not seem to find the right transformer for the job. Plitron or Hammond don't have one tha fit the specs (600 - 700 VA, 9V Sec), nor do I need that quality for this. Does anyone know where to find this transformer?

Thomas · 26th February 2003, 11:32 PM

Why not just parallel some smaller transformers to get the VA rating you want?

RobPhill33 · 26th February 2003, 11:42 PM

It costs substantially more money to by 5 @ 120VA than 1 @ 750VA.

Da5id4Vz · 26th February 2003, 11:49 PM

How bout a car battery kept under charge with a trickle charger, kind of like the phone company does. It would have plenty of current, and not too expensive. You’ll want to keep it well ventilated and keep a fuse in series with the plating tank. Shorting 12V at 50+ amps can be spectacular and quite dangerous if the battery has vented any hydrogen gas. A boat battery and case from a marine supply store with one of those nice plastic cases would be ideal. If you want to stay on budget, I think most auto junkyards will sell a used battery for a couple of bucks. You could put it in an old pick nick cooler from a yard sale. Put some vent holes in the cooler, you wouldn’t want it to go Hindenburg on you.

RobPhill33 · 27th February 2003, 12:04 AM

It would be cheaper wouldn't it. Can you find a trickle charger at a local store? How about a full on battery charger/starter, you wouldn't need a battery.

Da5id4Vz · 27th February 2003, 12:15 AM

I don’t know that an affordable charger starter will be rated to deliver 50 amps for more than a min or two at a time.

I'm assuming that anodizing requires that things be pickled for quite a while.

Brings up another issue about the battery. I think batteries car batteries can deliver about 200 amps (please correct me here), but for how long? Assuming that the anodizing would have its current decrees the longer the process is taking place, you’d likely get a fair amount of time out of one battery, but then again it might take several in parallel to keep up with the reaction.

If the neighbors don’t mind the Junk Yard Wars look, you could charge the cells with a windmill made from an old alternator.

I think the charger I just bought will deliver up to 5 amps trickle. Good for chemistry experiments, but likely not good enough to anodize a large panel.

RobPhill33 · 27th February 2003, 12:31 AM

I just looked up some battery chargers and you're right, not enough juice. The power supply may be the way to go.

pinkmouse · 27th February 2003, 12:37 AM

I was experimenting with anodising the other week, and I had great success using just a car battery on its own. I was just mucking around with some bits of plate around 6" square and 1/8" thick, and it took around 30 min. to get a decent finish.

I suspect if you were doing heatsinks for a Pass Lab project it would be a bit underpowered, but for a case front or similar you should have no problem.

RobPhill33 · 27th February 2003, 12:56 AM

I will have to anodize large pieces (360 inch sq). That requires about 25A continuously so I need a substantial PS.

pinkmouse · 27th February 2003, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RobPhill33
I will have to anodize large pieces (360 inch sq). That requires about 25A continuously so I need a substantial PS.

It's a shame you are in Canada, I know where there are some surplus single ended 12V 30A transformers in the UK that were used at Motor Shows for powering cars used as display exhibits...

26th February 2003, 11:25 PM	#1
RobPhill33 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Milton Ontario	Anodizing Power Supply Question I thought that it would be easy to build a power supply for anodizing aluminum, as seen here.http://www.caswellplating.com/supplies/rect.htm I want to make the 12V @ 50A PS. However, I can not seem to find the right transformer for the job. Plitron or Hammond don't have one tha fit the specs (600 - 700 VA, 9V Sec), nor do I need that quality for this. Does anyone know where to find this transformer?

27th February 2003, 12:37 AM	#8
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	I was experimenting with anodising the other week, and I had great success using just a car battery on its own. I was just mucking around with some bits of plate around 6" square and 1/8" thick, and it took around 30 min. to get a decent finish. I suspect if you were doing heatsinks for a Pass Lab project it would be a bit underpowered, but for a case front or similar you should have no problem. __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

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26th February 2003, 11:32 PM	#2
Thomas diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Right here	Why not just parallel some smaller transformers to get the VA rating you want?

26th February 2003, 11:42 PM	#3
RobPhill33 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Milton Ontario	It costs substantially more money to by 5 @ 120VA than 1 @ 750VA.

26th February 2003, 11:49 PM	#4
Da5id4Vz diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: lost in america...	How bout a car battery kept under charge with a trickle charger, kind of like the phone company does. It would have plenty of current, and not too expensive. You’ll want to keep it well ventilated and keep a fuse in series with the plating tank. Shorting 12V at 50+ amps can be spectacular and quite dangerous if the battery has vented any hydrogen gas. A boat battery and case from a marine supply store with one of those nice plastic cases would be ideal. If you want to stay on budget, I think most auto junkyards will sell a used battery for a couple of bucks. You could put it in an old pick nick cooler from a yard sale. Put some vent holes in the cooler, you wouldn’t want it to go Hindenburg on you.

27th February 2003, 12:04 AM	#5
RobPhill33 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Milton Ontario	It would be cheaper wouldn't it. Can you find a trickle charger at a local store? How about a full on battery charger/starter, you wouldn't need a battery.

27th February 2003, 12:15 AM	#6
Da5id4Vz diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: lost in america...	I don’t know that an affordable charger starter will be rated to deliver 50 amps for more than a min or two at a time. I'm assuming that anodizing requires that things be pickled for quite a while. Brings up another issue about the battery. I think batteries car batteries can deliver about 200 amps (please correct me here), but for how long? Assuming that the anodizing would have its current decrees the longer the process is taking place, you’d likely get a fair amount of time out of one battery, but then again it might take several in parallel to keep up with the reaction. If the neighbors don’t mind the Junk Yard Wars look, you could charge the cells with a windmill made from an old alternator. I think the charger I just bought will deliver up to 5 amps trickle. Good for chemistry experiments, but likely not good enough to anodize a large panel.

27th February 2003, 12:31 AM	#7
RobPhill33 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Milton Ontario	I just looked up some battery chargers and you're right, not enough juice. The power supply may be the way to go.

27th February 2003, 12:56 AM	#9
RobPhill33 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Milton Ontario	I will have to anodize large pieces (360 inch sq). That requires about 25A continuously so I need a substantial PS.

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