Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 08:18:22 -0600
Reply-To: Keith Adams <keith_adams@TRANSCANADA.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Keith Adams <keith_adams@TRANSCANADA.COM>
Organization: TransCanada
Subject: Re: electronic rust control
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Lee,
This system is what is referred to as an impressed current cathodic
protection system.
One major difference/problem with this system between pipelines and cars is
that cars aren't immersed in an electrolyte.
To quote from "Corrosion Control" by Samuel A. Bradford, 1993, Van Nostrand
Reihnhold Publishers, p. 254
"An impressed-current "cathodic protection" scheme has been marketed that
allegedly protects the underside of an automobile from corrosion. Two
permanent anodes connected to the car's battery are supposed to distribute
current through a thin film of moisture on the steel. If shielding prevents
current from flowing down a pipe more than 3 or 4 diameters, how far from
the anodes would you estimate the protection of the current would travel?"
Shielding , or screening, prevents the flow of protective current through a
low-conductivity electrolyte (in this case, whatever moisture is in the air,
because without some electrolyte, nothing will happen) where the current can
find a much better condutction metallic path.
From what I've seen, these systems are marketed and sold based on their
performance in coastal regions. In other words, where vehicles live in a
humid climate, constantly soaked in sea (salt) water. We all know how much
better a conductor of electricity salt water is than plain water. Or, if
you live here in Alberta, where the ambient humidity is usually bupkis
(40-50%) there's not enough moisture in the air to act as an electrolyte,
even if there was salt water.
FWIW, YMMV, my $0.02, etc, etc.
Keith Adams
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1986 Vanagon GL Westfalia
Lee Roesner wrote:
> A while back someone had written in about an electronic rust control
> device. I have been following up on it since and only recently had my
> email been forwarded from australia back to pennsylvania and was contact
> via phone last week. I have a limited understanding but this is what I
> picked up in our phone conversation:
>
> It seems this device is claimed (via lab tests) to slow rust down by 70%
> or more. The longer you use it the better the results. The whole science
> side of this thing was explained to me and was discovered and patented
> around 1986-87 if I remember correctly. It is similar to other
> electronic rust control devices used for underground piping (or
> something like that) that has been around for many years.
>
> The going price is $300. This device mounts anywhere and hooks up to
> your battery and then to your frame/body. That's it. It sucks up about
> as much juice as a auto clock I am told. A very, very low current is run
> through the body and some type of ion build up takes place between the
> primer and the body. That about as much as I understand.
>
> If any of you folks out there know more about electrostatic
> electricity...and can ask more intelligent questions than me, feel free
> to contact them and get more info. I am suppose to be getting info via
> mail. Will let you know what I find out. Otherwise, if this thing works,
> it sure would be nice to slow rust down to a snails pace.
>
> Contact info: Dan & George Kawatch 1-800-603-8451
> george.kowatch@gte.net
>
> http://www.counteract.com.au/ (this is their australian distributor)
>
> I talked with George. Perhaps we can get group discounts.
>
> --
> Lee Roesner
> Paradigm Graphic Design & Web Development
> 710-B Landwehr Road
> Northbrook, IL 60062
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