[Shop-talk] DC power supplay for home plating

[Don55CM at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/19/2008 9:03:02 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
kvacek at ameritech.net writes:

With all  the talk about power supplies for plating, would someone please 
give us  non-electronic types some succinct guidance on what's required for a 
 
plating power supply ?

What I mean is the general current and  voltage requirements, which parameter 
is most important to control,  etc.  How do we figure out how large a tank a 
particular power supply  can handle ?



The directions for you kit should tell you how much current is required per  
surface area of part being plated.  Most important is the current.   The 
resistance of the tank will be very low (fraction of an ohm).  Cheap  way is to get 
a voltage only regulated power supply, and put a high current 1  ohm resistor 
in series with the tank.  Best way is to get a current  controlled power 
supply, turn the voltage limit up and use the current  control.  Too much current 
will make the plating rough, dull and  porous.  If you use an unregulated 
supply (battery or charger), you need to  vary the control resistance based on the 
size of the part being  plated.  That's a real pain.
 
Don



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