Randy cell, sealed?

[Too Many Secrets]

Wondering if anyone has tried playing with the Randy washer cell... sealed. No drilling, washer hole used for electro in and gas out. 3 bolts on the outside with larger plates on ends. Gaskets between washers, wired +nnnnnn- or whatever # n's is needed.

In a practical way it would be easier to assemble and give a larger surface as there would be no 'waste' from drilled holes.

Just thinking...

[Bob]

HAY Toomanysecrets! thats a fantastic idea ! use a plate meterial that is redially available!
and make a DRY Randy cell !
...
whats more you could group say 4 washers to each layer...though that would make construction
much harder...
or a row of say 6 dry washer cells useing the same plexyglass end plates !
just seperate the washers a few inches appart along a 4"x18" strip of 1/2" plexyglass
and stack them up....
useing each stack as a seperate cell...
I think you'ed just about have to use large 1 7/8" 1/32" O-Rings to seal them ,but
you'ed gain in many ways.... plate spaceing consistancy, no interfearance from leaking
electrons going from one cell to the next in the same bath....
each cell would have an inlet and outlet that are in-line to help pump fresh coolant in
....
I gott'a draw that up and see what it looks like it sounds like a fantastic idea
due to their small size I think a group of 4 to 6 would be needed but that should be no problem sense washers are fairly cheep ! just hook up each cell as a parallel
hookup so each will see 12vdc so the neutral plates work ok... and it should produce quite well
....
I'll draw up a design tonight on that and post it here and see what ya think !
...
great idea though if you can find the O-rings.... if not perhaps hand cut nilon folders there too ?
...
Bob.......

[hydrotinkerer]

Got to many cells already but sounds like a cool idea. You could also use washers with a smaller center hole.

[Too Many Secrets]

I like the idea of O-rings of proper size. That would make the cell perfectly uniform and quicker to build.

I've been also thinking about the 'bank of cells' idea Bob alludes to above. Been trying to think of a way to have one large plate(Ground) and a way to 'pop' cells in and out for ease of cleaning/replacing. But I don't see how that would work with the washer (thru the center) design.

Looking forward to your drawings Bob.

[Bob]

Ok... here's a pic of the invisioned cell... but as I was drawing I discovered a major FLAW in the idea... I don't know how much it will effect the proformance but amagon it to be noticable!
...
the problem is the washers are orentated horizonally not vertically and the gas bubbles will be trapped
between the plates till they fight their way to the center and excape... this keeps the plates covered in bubbles for an extended period of time and is not good for production as without water on the plates no production will take place...
in normal operation the randy cell can let bubbles escape from both sides and the center
with this setup only the center will alow the gas to excape which means a good portion of the cells are going to be filled with gas most of the time while in operation...
the only cure that I cna see would be a ring of 1/8" holes around the outside edge ,just inside the O-Ring...
... Your thoughts on this
...heres the pic of the drawing I did...
8 washers in each stack 6 stacks and a strip of stainless steel in the top and bottom of the stacks
provideing the power strip for Neg and Pos connections.
...I have it orentated so the bubbles would go up and out of the cell into the line... drawing in coolant from the bottom connection. if I layed it on its side 1/2 of each cell would be filled with gas all the time ! so having it like I show is about the only way to position the cell rack
...
Bob.......

...

[randy]

Hmm this could be tested easily enough, get one of those 2" rubber hose couplers and clamp outside an assembled cell and see what happens, should be able to see if any difference in output is achieved this way.

[Bob]

yah there ya go...
 but that would not test the netural plate idea of all the center plates in the stack being not connected to power , just being powered by induced means
... I drew 8 washers but after thinking about it probly 5 plates would be better because of the spaceing between the Pos and Neg connections THROUGH the netural plates.... as we all should know, that
is crutial on a netural plate design... the distance between both end plates is of paramount importance as is the electrolite striength. adding just one plate will send the production way up or way down,
not quite like a hard wired cell at all !
at least thats my view on it !
Bob........

[Too Many Secrets]

Bob, that looks great on 'paper'. Just would have to test to see if the 'trapped bubbles' theory would ring true and stifle production.

Also it would be vital to keep the bolts from creating a dead short. Maybe some nylon washers between SS plate and SS washers? Maybe thin gauge SS strip on inside making connection with washers, but Plastic on outside of plate to bolt down?

[hydrotinkerer]

That design would probably work good with the hoses mounted vertical.

[Bob]

My idea was using 1/2" plexyglass 4"x (however long)
with thin stainless steel as the 1st plate in the stack that goes the length of the stack of cells
...in other words all the cells would be connected to one electrical connecting point the strip of S.S.
and the bottom is the same way they are allstacked on the other strip...
you'll notice that I forgot to draw the holes in the strip .... so its kind of missleading (OOPS!)
but with the Stainless steel strip as the first plate and the plexy glass over it to clamp down on all the cells at one time I think it would work ok...
...

I just don't think it will be a better cell than the original Randy cell MkI
but it may very well run cooler I realy dunno !
...
Bob........

[Too Many Secrets]

Awe Bob, I see the SS strip now. You got it! my bad.

As for production, you might get a 'push' with the trapped gas canceling the added surface without drilled holes.

Well I guess nothing left to do but test it...

Anyone have any washers without holes drilled?

[charley]

I do.  I'll build one when I get time, which might be a little bit as we're trying to finish up with harvest.  I've got 22 washers left that haven't been drilled and some shim stock.  I'll have to find some orings though.

Charley

[Bob]

I wonder if you could use greased Kite string as an o-ring ?
the grease would keep the string put on the washer and you could just cross the ends of the string
to complete the circle....  compression should make them seal  with a very small plate gap...
maybe too small... use a thicker cord ?
...
its a thought !
might could just use insulated wire too..
or hand cut cardboard donuts !?!
how about rubber bands ? if you can find some suitable ! un streached layed down on the washer.
....most rubber bands have very little continuity in them, un-like inner tubes.
...
or perhaps a tiny bead of silicone glue on each washer and left to dry ?
...
or go down and actually buy the right sized and thickness of O ring ~!
HEHEHEHE
Bob.......

[Too Many Secrets]

Also wondering if maybe plywood would work better then plexi. I'm worried about all the holes drilled inline weakening the plexi. Then again the plywood is less rigid and maybe be harder to get a good seal... So... just waxing on...

[hydrotinkerer]

You can use HDPE and you can get it at Walmart for 10 bucks. I use it for my end plates for all my dry cells. It is the white cutting board. Easy to work with and doesn't crack around the bolt holes.