Need method for controlling the amp. flow to the cell from 12Vdc supply to max. of 18 volts.
2006-06-10 05:16:40 · 6 answers · asked by hagens62 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
"gods_my_ruler" obviously has NO IDEA what he is talking about.
Of course you can, easily split H2O into H2 and O2 gas through a process known as "electrolysis". Actually, 12 volts is way over the minimum voltage required to electrolysize water.
You will also, of course, need to use some form of electrolyte (commonly, "salt", or Na/K Hydroxide are popular choices) in order to help the water conduct electricity since pure water does will not conduct at all.
But you question was about controlling the current flow.
I assume you are having problems with the current getting too high and overloading your power supply?
For starters, I would downgrade your power source to something with a little less voltage if possible.
You can also use combinations of small (on the order or just a few ohms or less) resistors wired in series/parallel in order to give you just the right resistance you are looking for in order to decrease the current through the cell.
Without more specifics about the problem you are having, that is about all the advice I can give for now.
Remember, it is not the voltage that controls the H2 production rate, it is the current.
According to Ohm's Law,
V = R*I
so a higher voltage (with a given resistance) does mean a higher current, but the same goal could be achieved with a lower voltage and much lower resistance.
EDIT:
In reply to "kurticus1024",
Using a reostat or variable resistor would work to dynamically control the resistance in the circuit, and thus the current through the cell, however, most reostat which I am aware of have a high minimum resistance (i.e. even when turned all the way to the minimum setting, they are far from zero ohms) so by doing this, you will be DRAMATICALLY increasing the resistance through the cell and intern virctually cutting your cuttent to just a few miliamps. A few miliamps is fine for many common electrical components whcih the reostat was designed for but if you intend on produce Hydrogen, you are going to have to wait a VERY long time to get any sizeable amount.
2006-06-10 05:49:46 · answer #1 · answered by mrjeffy321 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These folks mostly have this wrong. Just stick the leads in the water and it will bubble on both ends. You will be splitting the molecules into H2 and O2. Early scientists would catch it in inverted test tubes. You are trying to control the voltage, not the amperage it looks like to me. Any reostat of variable resistance would work. Maybe use batteries till you learn more about power supplies. Be safe. Make sure there is a fuse and a tranformer involved at least.
2006-06-10 13:21:09 · answer #2 · answered by kurticus1024 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't split a water atom with just a 12 v to 18 v battery, it would take a mass amount of power strength and time to split a waters atom, only one man has ever done this, and he never lived to tell the secret, but i cant imagine it being to easy.
2006-06-10 12:24:33 · answer #3 · answered by Dave 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dude, i did it using a 9V battery in like grade 5. just shove some salt in the water so that the water becomes an electrolyte. the bubbles formed are your h2 on the negative side and 02 on the positive side.
2006-06-10 16:00:06 · answer #4 · answered by Morkeleb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't have time to give you a complete breakdown, however, this research should point you in the right direction.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&q=hydrogen+oxygen+split+OR+break+OR+separate+%22amperage%22+-conspiracy
2006-06-10 12:25:02 · answer #5 · answered by blewz4u 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. When the atoms have already bonded, you can't split them.
2006-06-10 12:29:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋