Power supply ampage for electrolysis

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TrickyDicky

We're looking to purchase some power packs to be used primarily for electrolysis. Had a look through the CLEAPPS guide, but want to know what ampage would be best. The small SATZ and PSU units are supplied as 1.5 amps, 2 amps, 3 amps, 3.5 amps or variable 3.5 amps. Any ideas as to which would be best??
 
A

Andrew Symonds

You need something that could do up to 12v DC, variable one would be best as you can use for other stuff too, I've only ever measured current for electrolysis when looking at the Faraday constant and weighing electrodes. For general electrolysis the current may vary with the chemicals involved, I'd say the variable one that will do 3.5amps would be my choice.
 
R

RHSChem

We bought the blue 1.5A SATZ ones last year to replace our ancient failing orange UNILAB power packs.
Much lighter, much smaller so fit in less trays, and the teachers are reporting the best results they have seen for electrolysis experiments for years.
So everyone's happy!
 
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TrickyDicky

I was a bit put-off the SATZ ones by somebody who posted on here a while ago to say “I would avoid SATZ, i have 50% dead ones of the old grey type.” but maybe the quality has improved
 
Wobbly John

Wobbly John

If they are just for electrolysis, then I'd recommend low current ones with a cutout to protect against short circuits.

I built our own, using a 6V 1A plug-top power supply, and a 1A fuse, bulb and 'bypass switch' - we do a plating experiment sometimes when we want more current then the 0.3A bulb passes, thus the switch. We also use them for simple conductivity probe type stuff.
 
Wobbly John

Wobbly John

RHSChem said:
We bought the blue 1.5A SATZ ones last year to replace our ancient failing orange UNILAB power packs.
Much lighter, much smaller so fit in less trays, and the teachers are reporting the best results they have seen for electrolysis experiments for years.
So everyone's happy!
Click to expand...
But, but but... The orange Unilab ones are so much more repairable, and live on forever!
 
Techitude

Techitude

COMMITTEE
TrickyDicky said:
I was a bit put-off the SATZ ones by somebody who posted on here a while ago to say “I would avoid SATZ, i have 50% dead ones of the old grey type.” but maybe the quality has improved
Click to expand...
Not had any problem with ours so far with ours, and they are cheap enough to replace if they do get damaged anyway.
 
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