I have decided to build my first DryCell

[Jedomi]

Well it didn't take long for me to be converted to the dark-side but a user confirmed what i needed to hear about wet cells and so now i want to give DryCells a go.

Alright as you can see below i took apart my wet cell design to salvage the parts:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6859/img0223ti.jpg

And looking at it i think i will use these materials as a start:

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/5018/img0224rw.jpg

So now what should i use for gaskets? and how do i get an exact hole for the Water-in and Gas-out holes in my 1/4" acrylic?

[Bhart]

Your 1/4" acrylic will crack at the mounting holes. It is too thin, some builders use plastic cutting boards. You will need to offset your inlet holes so they are not in line with each other (voltage leakage), but the gas holes can be aligned. You can use pond liner from Home depot for gasket material.

[H2OPWR]

If you want to experiment with those switchplate covers here is a good video to watch. It is from a former member here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrovCAzg_kY

Larry

[Jedomi]

Hmmmm, how can i offset my inlet holes? I DO have holes in the middle that are already offset, could i put my inlet hole at the "middle" hole of the first plate?

Thanks for the link H20PWR, i was looking at all his videos... later on he mentions that because of the bevel around the edges i may get shorting issues.... but at this point i just want to build something that will work to prove the DryCell functionality, cased on materials i can acquire in my country.

[keiththevp]

I guess if I had only those materials to work with ... I would

Hammer the edges of the light covers so they became flat plates.

Get some EPDM, Neoprene, or rubber liner and cut out gaskets.

You can technically use the 1/4" plastic end-plates but you will need to trim the fittings you install in the end-plates so they are flush with the back.

Then drill holes in the end plates and bolt it all together.

As far as power connections I would either solder them on or cut a slit out of a corner so that a standard automotive wire connector would slip on.

GOOD LUCK!!! and enjoy your build.

[keiththevp]

OH, and get one more switch plate so you can connect it like this
+NNNNN-NNNNN+

[Jedomi]

Sweet deal keith!... I'll get to it right away and let you know how it turns out! =D

[Jedomi]

Slow progress here.... i've got the plates all together now:

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/3640/img00278201104171310.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6021/img00276201104171300.jpg

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/3628/img00279201104171313.jpg

[lhazleton]

OK, you're getting there!
What are the gaskets made of?

[Jedomi]

Unfortunately its some kind of cork/rubber gasket material, which i can imagine isn't the best to use

[lhazleton]

Hey, don't be so negative! It might work just fine. If not though, just go to Home Depot and get a bit of 'pond liner' back in the Garden Section. It's dirt cheap and works really well.;)

[Jedomi]

I thought i saw something like pond liner... it was 70$ a foot.... (1US = 2 Barbados Dollars)

[keiththevp]

How about a shower liner. I would just look for the cheapest rubber you can get. And kudos on following through on the build.

[Jedomi]

Here's my next update folks!

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/7936/img00002201101252040.jpg

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/6189/img00003201101252041.jpg

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/9066/img00004201101252041.jpg

Due to the slight curvature of the plates... i think i may have to double stack the gaskets i have to make this work properly =/

I HAVE done a simple leak test, and it appeared to leak only at the corner of the END plate...maybe i should only double stack the ends?

[keiththevp]

Nice work!!

A small suggestion, you need to get some thin walled tubing to cover the exposed bolts between the two end plates. If you don't and any of the plates are touching the bolts you now have a dead short. or if you mount the unit in a vehicle and the bolt touches the frame you could do some serious damage.

[lhazleton]

I thought i saw something like pond liner... it was 70$ a foot.... (1US = 2 Barbados Dollars)

I don't know what you were looking at! The liner I use cost $11 or so for a piece that was 1'x10' or somewhere in that area.

[Jedomi]

Lol everything is more expensive in my country cuz most of it is imported =( we are taxed pretty bad on any ****.

[Jedomi]

Here we go with another update folks! This time it's a video of my operational cell *so excited*

Production seems VERY low. my solution is a highly concentrated mixture of KoH and distilled water. Not sure why production is so low at this time, maybe there are some thing i have not tried?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA8FSUegAzA

[lhazleton]

You're getting there!:) How many neutrals per stack? Also, you mention using a "highly concentrated mixture". How concentrated? 28% by weight is the maximum you should use. Anything more will decrease production.

[Jedomi]

You're getting there!:) How many neutrals per stack? Also, you mention using a "highly concentrated mixture". How concentrated? 28% by weight is the maximum you should use. Anything more will decrease production.

To be honest with you.... i had solution with alot in it... i have no idea how much but i DO have a liter bottle.... how much KoH do i need to put in it? 280grams worth? cuz that is ALOT of KoH

It is a 13 plate set-up +NNNNN-NNNNN+ Used 2 gaskets per cell (the cork is very thin)

[lhazleton]

I always just mix a gallon at a time, which is 3lbs.HOH per gallon.
I you have a battery hydrometer, you can check the electrolyte level with that. It should read (if I remember correctly) around 1.275 for 28%. It won't work properly unless it's at least 1.225. Remember, as a drycell reactor, the electrolyte concentration is nowhere near as weak as for a wetcell.
280 grams is only .617lbs.. Get a quart of distilled water and add 340 grams. After it cools awhile, try it out. Your results should improve greatly.

[Jedomi]

Oh wait... i'm working with NaOH.... Lye.... not KoH >_< my bad....

[Jedomi]

Update:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xWHJt2XvEU

[lhazleton]

OK, I just watched the video. Is that yours? If so, I'm confused. You said that it was set up +NNNNN-NNNNN+, the video shows -NN+NN-NN+NN-. The one in the video is putting out a sh1tload of steam, very little HHO due to hitting each cell with 4.6 volts!

[Jedomi]

Yea its mine. I changed it cuz my highly concentrated NaoH mixture was yeilding worthless results as you could see in the video prior. At this point i just wanted to see it bubble ^_^

Anyway im looking to buy some plates off of ebay, and some neoprene gasket material:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Neoprene-Rubber-1-8-x-7-x-24-Sheet-Strip-/360361948460?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3D LVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8715195360698211901#ht_500 wt_922

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-x-6-HHo-Stainless-Steel-316-316L-18ga-Plates-qty-8-/170620353100?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3D LVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8715195976011994750#ht_192 8wt_905

Are there any better sources? I doubt i will be able to get any of this unless I buy a stainless steel baking pan and try to cut pieces out of it.

[Jedomi]

Update:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyCt_u7gb8w

[myoldyourgold]

Jedomi, You need to keep your plates in order and study them carefully. This will tell you exactly what is happening in your reactor and will give you some good information/experience. The plates that had markings that you could not understand, where were they in the set? Number the plates starting with the first positive plate. If you can post some pictures of the plates, (both sides) I am sure you will get lots of help. In the future make sure you run your reactor long enough by that I mean at a time, one setting, many hours, to make sure you collect the right data. This leaves more defined markings on the plates and makes the picture much clearer.

[Jedomi]

I've managed to obtain some rubber i think i can make gaskets out of so i will defiantly seek to have a prolonged test of at least 4 hours at a time.

Thanks for the tips tho, much appreciated. Right now i have it rigged in my gallery which gets a fair amount of breeze flowing through, i was just concerned since they tell you never run a cell under a roof (which i was doing) so i never ran it for too long. Would I be safe in running my cell for hours in a windy part of the gallary/patio?