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The noise also
covers the sound of the gas hissing out of the
torch tip, which I use on my electrolyzer to
know if I've got a "just right" torch adjustment
to prevent backfire during lighting the flame
(my electrolyzer operates nearly silently). With
the BN 1000E, lighting the torch is a guessing
game, though I will admit I never had a backfire
lighting the torch. Which was surprising,
because the gas pressure was so low (due to the
electronics problem), the torch must have been
on the verge of backfiring at any
time.
• To check
the main water level, you start the BN 1000E by
pushing the green button (make sure that you're
on at least a 30 amp breaker). You can have the
power turned on to the electronics and NOT have
the power turned on to the electrolyzer. The
power to the electrolyzer is only turned on when
you push the "start" button on the control
panel. While the BN 1000E is in this "stand-by"
mode, you can release any residual gas pressure
by opening your torch valve; and check your
liquid level.
If all the LED's
are lit up, you may have too much water in the
electrolyzer, if you drain some out (save it to
put back in when you've used up some water) and
be careful, the solution you drain out is
caustic, it will burn your skin and eyes if you
spill it on you (use safety equipment to protect
skin, eyes and clothes). Have vinegar and fresh
water available to clean up spills. By the way,
we find the water (electrolyte solution) drain
(in fact all the drains) to be inconvenient, as
they are just plugs on the ends of pipes; this
is messy and causes solution to get on your
hands.
Note:
If you look down
the water-fill tube in the "back-arresting"
tower, you'll see liquid at the bottom. If you
fill till the water you are pouring in just
touches the end of the water fill tube, you'll
not have too much water in the main
electrolyzer; you'll have too much according to
the electronics, but I've found no problem with
an even higher liquid level.
Note: the water
in the back-fire arrester is filled SEPARATELY
from the main electrolyzer. You can also use the
"modifier" tank as a second backfire arrester,
just by putting water in it instead of some
other fluid.
• After you
have a proper level of liquid in all three
places (back fire arrester, modifier (if used)
and main electrolyzer) You shut off your torch
valve, so you'd have no gas leaks and you set
your control panel. The control panel will
automatically choose it's maximum settings if
you don't set anything and just press "start" to
start the gas production. I personally can see
no reason why anyone would want to set the
machine to less than it's maximums, since it
automatically regulates itself to the actual gas
volume you're using anyway.
If you want some
other setting than the electrolyzer maximums,
the control panel has to be set every time you
turn the machine on, the electronics have no
memory. This is a bit of inconvenience because
you tend to shut the machine off instead of
letting it set in "stand-by" mode because the
fan is so loud. Besides, it is just good
practice to shut off electrolyzers when they are
not in use.
Note:
My electrolyzer
design can be used at any volume or pressure as
well, much easier than setting electronics each
time.
There are two
parameters to set on the control panel; the
maximum desired operating pressure and gas
production. If you just push "start", the
computer will assume you want the maximum values
of 1,000 liters per hour and 0.5 Mp.
You push "P" to
tell the computer that you're wanting to set the
maximum operating pressure. The computer will
ignore any setting above it's maximum of 0.6 Mp
(which is about 90 psi). So to set 0.5 Mp (about
75 psi) you'll push "P", then "0" and "5", then
"enter". (Actual maximum at this time is 0.06
Mp)
You push "GP" to
tell the computer that you're wanting to set the
maximum operating Gas Production. The computer
will ignore any setting above it's maximum of
1,000 L/h (liters per hour). So to set 1,000 L/h
you'll push "GP" then "1", "0", "0", "0", then
"enter".
•
Then press "start" to actually start the gas
production. Watch the pressure rise, if the
pressure doesn't rise quickly, within a few
seconds, then shut off the machine and check all
your hose connections for a leak (I had a leak
when I switched to my torch from the China
torch; I forgot to tighten one of my hose
connections).
As the pressure
is rising, you'll see the voltage and amperage
readouts fluctuating as the computer keeps the
gas production within the parameters you've set.
I think the gas production is "inferred" from
the amperage and voltage (I see no gas metering
device), so it's possible that the actual gas
production could be different than the readout
says. When the electrolyzer operating pressure
is reached, you'll note the amperage drop off
quickly and the voltage to drop off more slowly.
This is the electronics cutting off the power to
the main transformer, using the SCR as a
switch.
•
Light the torch as you would a normal oxy./acet.
torch; except that you hold the striker very
close to the torch tip or the gas won't want to
light. If you have too much gas volume, it also
won't want to light. If you have too little gas
volume, it will backfire.
     
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