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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Clubbing two rectifiers / connecting multiple power supplies to one plating tank
Q. Hi, had a question on power supplies for electroplating. Is it possible to gang two 3 phase Powerstat Rectifiers on the same job to increase the amperage output to the job?
Thanks for any advice,
Mike
TWINS CYCLE SERVICE - CREIGHTON, Pennsylvania, USA
April 16, 2020
A. Hi Michael. It may not be practical when you look at the installation, but theoretically ...
You probably could connect the cathode side of both rectifiers together and to the same one part ... as long as you were able to keep the anode rods separate. In other words, one rectifier connects only to the anode rod on one side of the part, and the other rectifier connects only to the anode rod on the other side of the part.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Thank you Ted, totally understand your explanation.
Twins Cycle Service - Creighton, Pennsylvania
⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩
Q. Sir,
We are designing a new setup to hard chromium plate hydraulic rams. We are in two minds about the rectifier we should choose. Our requirement is about 3200-3500 Amps and are in two minds whether to have one rectifier of 4000 Amps capacity or can we club two 2000 Amps rectifiers together. What is the possibility that the second option works as we have two rectifiers available one having 2000 Amps 12 V and second of 2000 Amps 8 V. I have heard that it is indeed possible to club rectifiers together but not aware of how it can be done. Do they need to be clubbed electrically having a single current controller or can we club the cathodes together to the job and have independent/ clubbed anodes. I hope you can understand what I mean .
Your expert advice will be appreciated.
REGARDS,
Vikram Dogra
Irusha India - Chandigarh, India
2002
A. The best way is to tie only one pole of the rectifiers together, and use one rectifier for one bay/cell and one for the other, and you'll have little trouble. If you tie both poles together, you'll have nothing but trouble.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. Dear Ted,
I am afraid but answer to my query has not been satisfying. You have not mentioned which pole to club and what "little" problem will it cause. Also what will be the best way to club them.
Hope to receive a satisfying answer.
REGARDS,
Vikram Dogra
Irusha India - Chandigarh, India
2002
Hi Vikram, thanks for reminding me that American English can sometimes be different than Indian English :-)
In America, "You'll have little trouble" is an idiom which means "You probably won't have any trouble at all ... but if you do, it will be very minor"; whereas I now realize that in India it could mean "You'll have some trouble".
A. Although you can connect both rectifiers either to the same anode busbar, or to the same cathode busbar, depending on what is more convenient, people usually think in terms of current/voltage/amp-hours to their workpieces, so it's less confusing to club the anode rods together and keep the cathode rods for the two rectifiers separate.
You should not connect two rectifiers to the same anode busbar and the same cathode busbar; that will be like being "of two minds" because two different control systems will be fighting to regulate the same system. Good luck!
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
A. Appropriate sized diodes in all 4 leads from the two power supplies will prevent current from flowing backwards thru the unit and will solve the problems Ted referred to. It takes a qualified person to determine the correct sizes.
James Watts- Navarre, Florida
A. VIKRAM,
YOU CAN INSTALL ONE 4000 AMP RECTIFIER. THAT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO IF YOU ARE SETTING UP A NEW PLATING FACTORY.
REGARDS,
Asif Nurie [deceased] [deceased]
- New Delhi, India
With deep sadness we acknowledge the passing of Asif on Jan 24, 2016
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