Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 15:06:03 EST
Reply-To: CMathis227@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chuck Mathis <CMathis227@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Any experience with electronic rust prevention?
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These sound like an automotive version of the cathodic protection systems used on petroleum pielines and the US Coast Guard's 110' patrol boats. I'm sure similar stuff is used other places but these are the ones I'm fairly famaliar with. Basically the idea is to balance the 'charge' of the hull or pipeline with the 'charge' surrounding material to prevent electrolysis. The CG 110's are a Vosper-Thorncroft design using a steel hull with an aluminium super structure and main deck. Some of these boats have been around since the mid-80's and are in good shape. Of course, they get constant maintenance and are dry docked at regular intervals, sand blasted and repainted. Petroleum pipelines have been using cathodic protection for years -- most failures are caused by 'third party damage' or really poor maintenance in other respects. Even with the protection systems they require regular inspections and constant monitoring. To work, these systems need a constant supply of electr!
icity -- how much depends on the
amount of protection needed. This could be a big drain on a car battery -- especially a Westy in Hawaii. Could this work on a Westy? I don't see why not given certain limitations. Will it be the be-all, end-all to prevent rust? Doubt it -- in proven applications there is still a need for constant attention. Will it cost an arm and a leg? You bet.
Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Westy
In a message dated Thu, 25 Jan 2001 2:07:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, Jahan Byrne <jahanbyrne@EARTHLINK.NET> writes:
<< In Hawaii, several auto dealers install a product called "Electro-Shield"
from Auto Saver Systems. It supposedly slows down corrosion using by
interfering with the ionization process. It sound promising, but I'm not
enough of a scientist to know if this would help the inevitable rusting of
my Westy. They have a web site at:
http://www.cargaurd.com
Anyone on the list have experience with this or a similar product?
--- Jahan Byrne
--- jahanbyrne@earthlink.net
>>