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Testing the
torch with Brown's Gas allowed us to cut and
weld cast iron (with oxygen added), vaporize
tungsten and weld copper; also did brazing on
iron. Adding gasoline as a modifier (1/2 quart)
allowed us to weld iron, but only when we added
oxygen to the flame.
We used the same
torch tips and duplicated all the above feats
with normal oxy./acet. Neither torch was able to
weld stainless steel, aluminum or weld different
metals together. The Brown's Gas torch did cut
thick steel faster and cleaner than the
oxy./acet. torch.
TESTING
THE BN 200
These poor
people bought this tiny electrolyzer at $2500
from Yull Brown himself (twice listed retail
value). We took it out of the box (cut the seals
ourselves) and discovered that it had been used
(hydroxide spills and rust) and that it had no
power cord.
We went to town
and bought the components to make a power cord
(12 gauge all weather stranded wire, a 240 VAC
plug to fit the outlet we are using for the BN
1000E and a heavy duty "computer" cord with
female plug (that being the power outlet for the
BN 200).
I wired the cord
(soldered all connections) and it looked and
worked great. I put lye electrolyte @ 5:1 in the
electrolyzer and turned it on. Nothing happened;
well, OK, the power light came on.
Quick testing
shows that the electronics are not turning on
the electronic switch to allow the amperage to
go through the electrolyzer. I think the
electronic switch is good, but some other
parameter (like malfunctioning pressure
transducer) is causing the problem. Don't have
time to fix it at this time; though the
electronics seemed simple enough and could be
reverse engineered.
•
Testing Conclusion:
The Brown's Gas
BN 1000E makes the exact same quality gas (about
130%) as our current electrolyzer design, but
our design takes almost exactly 1/3 LESS
electricity to make the same volume of
gas.
Operation of the
BN 1000E is simple enough, once you know how to
do it. In my opinion, the instruction manual and
technical support from Yull Brown are not
adequate to assure safe operation for a novice
user (this includes someone knowledgeable as
myself). This report will assist users of the BN
1000E to operate the machine safer. My own
electrolyzer designs are fully documented and we
give enthusiastic technical support to anyone
using ANY (but particularly ours)
electrolyzer.
The BN 1000E is
quite presentable, looks good. And I'd consider
it well designed, just not designed as well as
it could be. I'd suggest several changes to make
it safer and easier to use, but then we'd end up
with my design. (check out the ER 1150 Water
Torch)
The BN 1000E
seems to suffer from a "China syndrome" of
quality control. We found several problems,
particularly in the electronics that could be
traced directly to inadequate quality control.
In short, the machine barely functioned,
crippled by faulty (and complicated)
electronics; for which there are no wiring
schematic or technicians on this side of the
Pacific.
The BN 1000E is
made of mild iron, and already shows rust both
inside and out. Personally I don't expect long
life spans for these (expensive) machines. It
will be particularly important to make sure the
backfire arrester has adequate water in older
machines, because the rust will eventually cause
the electrolyzer to weaken and it will not be
able to contain a backfire.
The BN 200
suffers from the "China syndrome" too. In my
opinion, the torch tips are also too large a
diameter for the electrolyzer capabilities.
Backfires assured.
     
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