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Thread: KOH no good with brass screws

  1. #1

    KOH no good with brass screws

    I have 4 cells with spiral plates and KOH. It appears that the brass screws I used are contaminating the cell. Time to switch to all stainless. McMaster sells a flux that can be used to solder stainless screws together.

    Ted

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
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    Ted,
    What the hell are 'spiral' plates?????????
    1998 Explorer 4x4, 4.0
    14 cell / 2 stack 6x9" drycell reactor 28%KOH dual EFIE, MAF enhancer, IAT & ECT controllers, 2.4 LPM @ 30 amps. 6.35 MMW http://reduceyourfuelbill.com.au/forum/index.php

  3. #3
    Rather than go with the dry cell design i settled on winding two plates into a sprial design. It is on my website here:

    http://www.maverickexperiments.com/

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Kennedy N.Y.
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    That LOOKS Like it'd be MORE work than a Dry cell... But, to each his own...

    To answer your question, YES, KOH WILL Eat Brass... And Copper....
    and Yes, that Flux stuff works for soldering Stainless to Stainless.
    I Personally haven't used it, but have watched my Stainless supplier Soldier stainless to stainless.. Looks like it works the same as soldering Copper wires to what ever you're soldering them to....
    96 E-250 4.9L, 100,000 Miles.
    12.5 MPG Befor HHO
    16.5 (Best) after HHO.
    Modified Smack Gen I Cell.

    85 BMW 524TD
    26-32MPH
    HHO Coming soon

    A TOOL Is only as GOOD as it's operator. If the Operator DON'T KNOW How to work it, The TOOL WON'T WORK

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
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    4
    Quote Originally Posted by thedore View Post
    I have 4 cells with spiral plates and KOH. It appears that the brass screws I used are contaminating the cell. Time to switch to all stainless. McMaster sells a flux that can be used to solder stainless screws together.

    Ted
    So does anyone know where to get stainless pipe fittings then? Or, maybe I could use brass but coat the insides of the fittings with some kind of plastic, so I'd get the rigidity and solder-ability of brass, without it contacting the electrolyte. Or are those nickel plated ones ok?

    I ask as I'm thinking of a (new?) design where I would use pour-able epoxy/resin around the edges of the plates and not have a plastic end plate. That means no gaskets to squeeze or degrade, no threaded rod, no torque-ing on bolts. I would align all the plates in an assembly jig type setup by putting removable spacers in between them. Then I'd dip a side of the assembly into a rectangular tray just a bit bigger then the perimeter of all the plates. The assembly will not touch the bottom of the tray so that a solid "wall" would be formed when the tray is filled with pour-able epoxy. Once it's hardened and dried, it will have formed, on one side, a barrier and spacing holding the plates aligned and apart. The dipping process would be repeated another 2 times for the other two sides. Once 3/4 sides are hardened, the assembly jig can be removed from protruding through the 4th side and then that final side will get it's dunking in the resin. Since EPDM seems to be the material of choice, I might even be able to do this with pour-able EPDM, but since it's not rigid, I don't know if it would be a good choice, structurally.

    I think aside from relatively unknown effects of electrolyte constantly contacting whatever epoxy/resin I'd choose to use, this design would have NO gaskets or screws and the lead wires could be soldered directly to the middle of each of the end plates as well as the hose fitting.

    What are anyone's thoughts on this construction method?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Dallas, TX
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    490
    Quote Originally Posted by phantasm48 View Post
    So does anyone know where to get stainless pipe fittings then?
    McMaster : http://www.mcmaster.com/#5670k85/=9sclj1

    or

    http://www.dudadiesel.com/fittings.php

    For this one, you'll have to step up to a 1/2" NPT and get a 1/2" to 3/8" reducer if using 5/16" clear vinyl line.


    For the epoxy, please read my post on the underground here and save yourself some time and hassle:

    http://hhounderground.com/Forum/view...php?f=26&t=171

    You're welcome.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by phantasm48 View Post
    I ask as I'm thinking of a (new?) design where I would use pour-able epoxy/resin around the edges of the plates and not have a plastic end plate. That means no gaskets to squeeze or degrade, no threaded rod, no torque-ing on bolts. I would align all the plates in an assembly jig type setup
    What are anyone's thoughts on this construction method?
    Sounds like a nice idea, but how would you clean your plates should they become contaminated?
    1998 Explorer 4x4, 4.0
    14 cell / 2 stack 6x9" drycell reactor 28%KOH dual EFIE, MAF enhancer, IAT & ECT controllers, 2.4 LPM @ 30 amps. 6.35 MMW http://reduceyourfuelbill.com.au/forum/index.php

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    8
    Brass is not being eaten by KOH, but the electrolysis.

    In the system, should avoid using easily electrolytic consumption of materials, such as copper and aluminum.

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