New Electro Setup! Finally

[Trevor Lawrence]

Here is my new electro setup. Everything together cost $125

Battery Charger - $50
Rubbermaid Trash Can /w Lid - $40
Stainless (Scrapyard)- $33
Misc Hardware - $2

Got really lucky on the stainless. Found it in a scrapyard. Not sure what grade it is, but its not magnetic. Once i had the stainless, I bought a trash can to fit. Got a nice heavy trash can so it will last. Ended up getting the battery charger from a friend for cheap. We had the wood and most of the stainless hardware at work.

The stainless is 24" deep, but i have 21-3/4" of usable stainless. So i should be able to do everything including #14's. The hanger is adjustable up or down. I have a threaded bolt with 2 stainless fender washers and a stainless wing nut. Pretty basic lol.

[Cheryl Watson]

Hey Trevor!  Looking nice!
Now you do know that you can attach up to 3 pictures in ONE (1) post now???
 :)
http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1383487988



What are the 4 tabs on the sidewalls for??

[Trevor Lawrence]

I did not know that cheryl, Thanks.

Im not sure what the tabs are for. There are nuts welded behind the tabs that had stainless bolts in them. Not sure what the piece was originally used for... but it is nice quality. Nice quality tig welds on it.

I put 1 Tablespoon per gallon of washing soda (40 gallons). My amp meter is showing around 8 amps on the 40 setting. Is this ok? or should I add more soda?

[Cheryl Watson]

Another question...

How are the ends of the sheet fastened together?

Trevor,,,, re: washing soda,,,,

I'd go by the activity (action) in the electro, rather than the amp meter, as many times the meter on the chargers are not accurate because the electro does not have the same resistance factors that a batterey with cells has.

When running, after about 15 minutes, I feel/touch my positive and negative clamps from the charger to check for 'heat'... If they are too hot during use, too much soda... if they stay cold, I will tweak the amount of washing soda upwards!

Glad to see you have finally built your electro!!  :)

[Trevor Lawrence]

The stainless is Tig welded together. The tabs and the nuts are also Tig welded onto the stainless. This is exactly how I found it in the scrapyard! Got very lucky that i didn't have to do any extra work, just dropped it in the trash can.

[Cheryl Watson]

Wow! Custom made to order from the scrap yard!  How lucky can you get?
Now go back and get one for me! ;D
Dang!  We keep posting at the same time, so check my modified post above! ::)

[Trevor Lawrence]

They had about 6 of them. My friend and I both bought one and have the same exact setup. I did think about Wags Members... It probably would be pretty expensive to ship tho... and I'm not sure what grade they are.

[Trevor Lawrence]

Can you use 1 charger to run multiple tanks? And just use jumper cables from one tank to the other? Thinking about setting up 2 5 gallon buckets along with the big tank, so 3 pieces at a time.

[Cheryl Watson]

Trevor, I use one battery charger for each tank.

My concern is that the current may fluctuate due to several variables, and the flow at the furthermost point may be reduced or unreliable if using jumpers along the way....

Now some of the guys have constructed some pretty elaborate systems, but without a degree in electrical engineering, my approach is to keep it simple.  ;D

[Trevor Lawrence]

I have used my electro about every day/week since I set it up. Every piece, I kinda study it trying to see how i can improve. Im not sure if this is the case, but it seems like where ever you hook the positive cable to the stainless, it draws better there.

Since i have these 4 mounting points already in the stainless... figured i would try something to help equal out the current. I made 4 wires to run around the outside of the stainless (The wire hanging out is to hook up the positive to). Luckily i had some left over 1 Gauge Wire from another project, just enough to do what i wanted. Cut the wires to length, soldered on connectors and heat shrinked them. I used some locking washers to dig into the stainless, and the bolts press against the tab on the inside of the stainless.

This may not help... but i guess it can't hurt either.

[Trevor Lawrence]

Here is a pic of 1 of my mini electro, i have 2 exactly the same (5 Gallon Bucket's). I cut up a stainless trash can for the stainless. I am testing out lye in this and its doing well. Didn't need that much lye at all to get the amps up... Seems very diluted.

[Cheryl Watson]

Trevor, did you use a 32 gal or 44 gal. Brute for the Large electro?

I'm anxiously awaiting my surround sound Stainless!  ;) ;D

[Trevor Lawrence]

44 Gallon.

The can to the left is the one that I have. It keeps the stainless near the top of the can. I think you get this one at Lowe's.

The one to the right will allow it to drop almost to the bottom. I think you get this one at Home Depot.

[Cheryl Watson]

Thanks Trev, good to know... two different styles... I hadn't discovered that yet! :) 

[Trevor Lawrence]

Got the big electro drained/cleaned and converted to lye. It only took 1 pound for 40 gallons. 10 amp setting draws 15 amps. Works a lot better... Thats just my opinion.

Its also nice that the lye is so diluted... don't have to worry so much with handling it like the double strength lye bath.