more on cell

[binderguy]

Hi guys, getting a little excited this morning. Had a weird thing happen, then what seems to be a good thing.Went out this morning, started the truck, turned on the cell and it came on, amp draw hit only 15-20, then it immediately shut off like the breaker popped. I went "huh" and since I was only going a short distance I shut the gen switch off and just went. Truick sat for about 3hrs and before I left I popped the hood just to check everything out, everything looked good so I started up, turned on the gen, amps hit 15-20 again and this time it stayed on. got out and looked and the cell was bubbling like crazy, the output through the bubbler was almost a stesdy stream of gas. It's only 5-10min to get home, amps were steady at 20 and I looked again, almost a steady stream of gas and the elyte looked like a vanilla milkshake for 3/4rs of it. Anyhoo, given this I am going to do another lpm test with the 2 liter bottle. Just eyeballing it the gas production seems to have tripled. Maybe a break in period for the cell? we'll see. I'll let you all know. Later, Jim.

[Cowboy]

There is always a break-in period, but you can limit this with pre-treatment of the metals.  I haven't done it, but plenty of others have.  You need to soak your plates in your electrolyte solution for a couple of days before putting it together.  It helps bleed impurities, thus improving output.

[Bob]

Jim: You don't want that Milkshake stuff going into your engine you know...  if it is STOP IT !
going into the bubbler is ok but the output from the bubbler should be clear and just gas... no bubbles !
the KOH in the water is bad for engines.
...
I had 2 30amp curcuit breakers one was bad straight from the shelf it snapped off at 20 amps not 30amps....so evedently its not too uncommon to get a bad breaker.
...
be very carefull about the level of your electrolyte in the cell and the level in the bubbler... if the cell is down some it usually means it is in the bubbler... thats not bad in iself I guess but it will over fill the bubbler and push the water and electrolyte into the engine which is bad... ya gott'a keep that KOH out of the engine it will eat it up in short order!
...
I ran my bubbler at 3" from the top to prevent any water going into the gas line to the intake... as the engine and water heated up that level was reduced to about 1" ... so there is allot of expansion of the liquid in both containers.
...
don't forget to tie down the Pop Off cap on your bubbler or you may loose it ! ( been there done that!)
...
Bob......

[binderguy]

Not to worry, there is nothing going into the engine. the cell is in a 1 gallon glass jar and I only filled it a little shy of 3/4 full so when the cell is operating there is still a good 4-6" space to the lid of the jar. I also have a trap(dryer,if you will) between the bubbler and the inlet to the carb. What I meant was from the top of the water level down, 3/4 of that looked like a vanilla milkshake. It's still well away from the lid.

[Bob]

Ohhh... I don't care for that setup at all... here's why !
...
you have about 1 quart of Very volatile Hydroxy gas above your cell...
With a SCREW ON LID.... what you have is not a Hydroxy generator, its a Hydroxy BOMB!  and to make things worse its a glass jar that will throw shrapnal all over the place... You can do MUCH better and Much safer than that My friend!
... I can only conclude that you have not hurd Hydroxy gas explode yet...
fill a balloon to about fist size and  use a yard stick with a match taped to the end to light it.... it will supprize you !... do it outside!
...
and a quart is a bunch of hydroxy gas... enough to damage your hearing
or Kill you if it were to be set off... figure a Hand grenade under the hood... and you'll be figuring purdy close!
...
I know you want to see the cell working... but safety is more important
get some 4" PVC pipe and a PoP off rubber cap the type that is set with a wing nut...  they don't leak but will keep it from exploding by releaveing the explosive pressure.
( the little red caps on my generator and bubbler in the photo section)
you can get them at any hardware store.
.....
I understand your trapping the moisture now... good ya had me worried!
hehehehe now get rid of that glass jar before a back fire blows the hood off your car and sends glass through your chest!
....FWIW
Bob........

[Feral]

I still remember when there was a large glass jar mounted under the hood of one of the cars, and the rather strong smell of diesel when it broke... (What car was that anyway Dad ?)

[Bob]

that was the Ford Pinto with a Water injection system system on it.... I wound up putting Diesel in it instead of WATER for even More improvement in MPG and HP both....when the Jar broke that ended that project!
...but it didn't EXPLODE as Hydroxy gas is Apt to do !
....
heheheh
Bob.......

[randy]

No kidding there, I've scared the beejeebers out of myself several times, hydroxy is volatile. I'm still suprised water fer gas hasn't been sued for killing someone, could be the small output saving them.