At 18:09 -0500 4/27/11, ard wrote:
[1] I am not one of those. I have no
qualifications in electronics or
computing.
I think it would be fair to insert the word "formal".
What is an 'informal qualification'?
You mean you don;'t have a bench supply???
Well, I have some orphaned in-line or wall-wart supplies intended for
computers, radios, etc. that I could chop the connectors off of. But
I figured the jump cables could put out more current.
They certianly can (short-circuit current from a car battery is going to
be around 1000A). And of coruse it's current you need for elecrtrolysis
(putting it crudely, one electron will neutralise one unit charge on an
atiom, so you need 2 electrons to liberate one molecule of H2. More
current = more electroncs per unit time = faster rate of prodcuing the gas.
It's not
uncommon to get Cl2 at the positive electrode. Another reason to
do it in a well-ventilated area.
True! I forgot about that. The chemistry book we were looking at said
at a more concentrated solution of salt was more likely to produce
Cl2. That was a pretty simple mnemonic for me to remember, so I
didn't use much salt.
Provided you work in a reasonably well ventilated areal (outside, in the
garage with the door open) and use a normal-size power suource, you will
not produce Cl2 at a sufficient rae to be dangerous. You may well produce
enoguh to it to be able to smell it, but it won;t do any lasting damage IMHO.
-tony