Explanation of a series cell

[jksav7]

I just read this on one of Bob Boyce's forums. I thought it might be kind of beneficial. It's his simple explanation of a series cell.

"The simplest explanation to series cells is this:

When you pass current through a single cell, the current is used once
and returned to the power source. The simple formula is the more
amps pushed, the more gas is produced. The drawback is, to get more
gas you have to raise voltage to push more current. So more power is
wasted in generating heat.

When you pass the same current through multiple cells in series, the
same current produces the same amount of gas multiple times, in each
cell. Due to increased resistence of the added cells, overall current
is reduced, however, since there are more cells making gas, the power
applied is used more efficiently.

So, more gas for less power overall. Less power is wasted as heat and
more power goes to making gas.

In order for this to occur at peak efficiency however, each cell
electrolyte MUST be isolated from one another, otherwise the power
will "leak" through the electrolyte, effectively bypassing the cells
in between.

This is a brutally simple answer, for more information and technical
details on the how and why, I suggest reading the documents and posts
on this site pertaining to series cells.

Bob"

[mike]

Great explanation. Bob Boyce is the man!

What forum did you find this on?

[jksav7]

It was on the yahoo "Hydroxy" forum.

[mike]

Ok, thanks. Lol, I'm a member there, but forgot about it. I've book marked it so I won't forget about it again.

[Gary]

OTOH, it seems that there is some (albeit less) value to submerged series cells that are sealed, yet have some small orifices to allow water in and gas out. This to me seems to be a very easy build (yeah, just goopseal your plates or something) and can be used in a filter or smack type tube. Anyway, I'm trying it out, expecting some current leakage.
Now, according to Mr. Boyces info, losing current would be the same as adding cells, so IMO, if I build it with one or more less cells, the current should stay up. Soooo....instead of 7 cells giving me 2v/cell, I'll use 6 cells assuming losses and balance. (hopefully)
Did I miss it?
My other thought would be to put more cells on and add amperage, but I think that would run hotter. 15 cells on 14v @ say, 15 - 20 amps...I dunno, but it just seems like that would be weak in each cell, but with more cells...output would increase.

[tjh566]

the design im working on is gonna be 2 banks of 5 cells which would be series then the 2 banks would be wired together parallel, still on the build stage will post results

[CitatioN10]

I just made a 4 cell and 8 cell today in series +-+-+-+-+-

sure the amps went up but I didn't get one bubble to come out of my hose at 12 amp even ..

no idea whats going on. I even tested it with 18 volts and no bubbles

[Gary]

With no answers, I built and tested it:
I used 8 plates, series connected (6 center plates N), sealed them except for gap at the bottom and top (water moves freely thru it...hooked it up and it stunk. I could tell from the small amount of froth and bubble that it won't come near a smack setup - and NO bubbles came from the INSIDE, where I expected all the action: most of them came from the outside of the negative plate. I have 8 more plates to attach to the other side (I think it'll still fit) and wire it smackstyle and see how it works then.

[colchiro]

Citation, Gary, see this thread for an explanation true series cells.

Note that true series cells are multiple containers of electrolyte, each with it's own set of plates. Two common types are one container with partitions or multiple containers connected to each other.

[Gary]

Of course. But I haven't found an easy available parts way to make one yet, so I was using ZFF's sort of idea of sealing the plates themselves, but it was horribly disappointing. He seemed to make it work with AC and high voltage: I did it with 14v. Or tried to.
I think maybe my time would be better spent trying to come up with a way to make a true series 5 cell unit. So far, PVC or Acrylic sheets are prohibitively expensive around here.