Electrolisis Tank (just curious)

[Dave F.]

My garage is an unheated one.( a balmy 14 degrees today) I was wondering if an electrolisis tank would freeze up while it was working with the battery charger hooked up. It wouldn't be cost effective for me to heat my garage for hours on end. Thanks Dave F.

[johnbron]

It might depend on what size your tank is but I dont think it would freeze while in action. The water is always moving during the process. I have noticed when I do small parts in a 5-gallon bucket that the water actually gets warmer aftr working awhile.

[Rudi]

Dave:

Simple answer is NO.

My buddy Gordon was using his tank last winter. It gets cold here. A lot of days in January and February last year were well into the minuses -
-30 -40 degrees C... oh, -40 C is the same as -40 F...

As JB said, when the water is in motion the water won't freeze. Also, the specific gravity of the water with the TCP is changed as well -- Jim will probably be better able to explain that one.

[artc]

if the water is not in motion with a job to do, then freezing is a problem. i was off on vacation last year and the help left the overhead door open all day at +5 degrees. froze enough to skate on the tank, so i was told.

moral of that story, it's really my fault... i should have posted a sign on the door instructing the help that it's WINTER, and they need to close the door ! you wouldn't think you would need basic instructions like that, now would you?

[Bill V in Md]

Anytime you dissolve something in water it will lower the freezing point (likewise, it will raise the boiling point). I suspect that the recommended strength of the alkaline solution for electrolysis will probably lower the freezing to about 10-15 degF. With the power on and current flowing, it will lower the freezing point even further.

['60_Lo-Boy]

Dave:
oh, -40 C is the same as -40 F...

i beg to differ. -40C is very much different than -40F

to calculate from C to F

TF = 9/5 x TC + 32

to calculate from F to C

TC = 5/9 x (TF - 32)

whereas TF = Temp in F
and TC = Temp in C


so in theory -40C would equal a whopping -104 F aproximatly

if i may question, where do you live? because thats booger freezin weather.

[Ron L]

Lo-Boy. Don't beg................

To convert "F" to "C" : Subtract 32 from "F", divide remainder by 9, and multiply by 5.

"C" to "F" : Divide by 5, multiply by 9, and add 32.

Answer : -40 F = -40 C ...........


Rudi: You-da-man.................

[Jim Hudson]

TEMPERATURE CONVERSION
-40 degrees Celsius equals -40 degrees Fahrenheit

Convert here http://www.sciencemadesimple.net/temperature.html
Rudi is hard to fool!

[Ron L]

Low-boy. I think you forgot to factor in the minus (-).........

ie: -40"F" -32 = -72
-72/9 = -8
-8 x 5 = -40"C"

['60_Lo-Boy]

whoops my bad.

i shouldnt have doubted rudi in the first place

again, sorry about that

[Buzzard Wing]

Rudi is the man.... and I know that when it gets to -40 in Quebec (or anywhere) that is the point that hell freezes over. -40 = damn cold in either C or F. It was only -20 in W. Maine this weekend.

My tank did get some ice forming when it was about 10, but there was no ice over the part. It may matter that mine is a pretty large tank (20 gal).

[artc]

-40 is-40 is $&**@ cold

times i've spent in Quebec snowmobiling over the last 25 years (gettin' old !) i've seen that temp quite often. very few gas motors will start, forget diesel's, push them into a garage. automatic transmissions have a tough time moving, and the computers that keep modern vehicles alive suck out precious battery power at that temp. at -40 to -50, moving vehicles risks having the tires lose their beads and go flat, due to the rubber being soo stiff.
best while snowmobiling to figure to be at your destination by nightfall (translation: temperature freefall!) and be sipping on something by the fire!

block heaters, removing batteries to bring inside, boosting trucks without even trying to start them, and letting them run an hour to warm the transmissions is normal.

beautiful country and friendly people..best snowmobiling, hands down.

[Buzzard Wing]

Yep Art, you are right about good snomobiling up there. Manage to get along pretty well since a good friend was raised in a French speaking home. Good thing it does not get to -40 too often. Snowmobiles seem to like 0 though, possibly just the newer ones??
I found the best tires are Blizzaks for winter, they have come in pretty handy this year.

As for the tank. I shut mine off yesterday with a little ice on top and found almost an inch this evening (frozen solid on top). It has been colder than it was in the last day, so I suspect that you can run it most of the winter in an unheated space. Except.... is it possible that the hydrogen NEEDS a way to escape?

[beaconlight]

Sounds just like TOK JUNCTION Alaska. I worked there one winter. Every saturday afternoon we would go to the Dog Sled Races. Days it warmed up to 20 or 30 F we stood there with open parkas it was too warm with them closed. New Years 1963 was thaw coldest I have seen -58F on the thermometer on the bank in Fairbanks.
Rudis -40 C or F is cold.

Bill