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DC/DC converter for hydrogen generation with 12 volts input |
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High power 12 volt to 4 volt DC/DC converter designed for
hydrogen generation. |
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This is a buck converter that reduces a nominal 12 volts to a range between 3 and 5 volts with
constant current. The output current is nominally 30 amps, but can be varied with a knob on the front panel.
Since it
only takes about 1.5 volts to break down water any excess voltage is turned into heat. This is why when you use an electrolytic
cell connected directly to the car's alternator it is difficult to manage the heat.
At 1.5 volts there is very little
current accepted, so it helps to boost the voltage above that slightly. Our DC converter sets this compromise at about 4 volts,
which allows for maximum gas generation with highly efficient use of electrical power and for reasonable electrolyte
concentrations.
Another advantage is that this converter will use only about 12 amps of 13.8 volts from the car's
alternator to produce 30 amps worth of hydrogen. This advantage comes from using an efficient switchmode DC converter
technology and so is much kinder on the car or truck's electrical system and alternator than trying to run the electrochemical
cell off of 12 volts.
What counts in electrochemistry is current. Two electrons are needed to separate the two hydrogen
atoms from the oxygen atom in a water molecule. Amps are proportional to electrons per second flowing along a wire or through a
liquid. The voltage drives the reaction, but increasing the voltage will not increase the hydrogen generation unless there is
also an increase in current.
Therefore, this DC/DC converter is designed to run in constant-current mode. Resistance of
the electrolytic cell is dependent on electrolyte concentration and temperature, so a constant voltage source will cause the
hydrogen generation (and also the heat dissipated) to vary. In fact the the higher the temperature the more current will be
driven through it, making the electrolyte even hotter. This makes the cell impossible to control. Therefore this
constant-current converter is designed so that no matter what the temperature or concentration of the electrolyte is it will
try to put out a constant 30 amps. When the electrolyte's resistance is outside of the converter's operating mode it will let
you know by LED signals (see below).
We only sell the DC converter, we don't have the expertise to help you buy or make
the electrolytic cell. There are a lot of web sites on the Internet that will help you to do that.
| Model Number and price |
PST-DC1204-30
Quantity 1-9 $188.00
10-99
$165.00
100-500 152.00
500+ $105.00
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| Input Voltage Range |
9 VDC to 14 VDC
New feature: Will not turn off during car starting if the voltage stays
above 6 volts |
| Output Voltage |
4 VDC Nominal, will vary from 3.5 to 5.3V to try to keep the current constant. |
| Peak Output Power |
160 Watts maximum |
| Nominal Output Current |
30 Amps ± 5% |
| Current Adjustment |
From about 28 to 32 amps with the front panel knob |
| Continuous Output Power |
120 Watts |
| No-Load Overhead |
150 mA |
| No-Load output voltage |
6.3 volts. When a load is connected the voltage will automatically adjust to regulate the
output current at 30 amps. If it can't (because the load resistance is too high) then the output will remain at 6.3 volts. |
| Over-power protection |
Whenever the output voltage exceeds 5.5 volts the converter will cut the output to 3 amps. The
converter will pulse between 3 amps and 30 amps until the load is corrected. |
| Isolation |
The operation is not affected by the negative side of the electrolytic cell being grounded to
the car. |
| Efficiency |
>70% (see chart below) |
| Optional Thermistor |
An optional thermistor can be connected. When the thermistor detects temperatures above
76°C it cuts back the output current by about 10 amps until the temperature goes down. This can be used on the electrolysis
tank or on the DC converter's case. |
| LEDs |
Red for Power-on, Green for normal operation
Green LED flashes on start-up when there is no
load |
| Water replacement LED |
As the water is electrolyzed the concentration of salts in the electrolyte increase and lowers
the cell's resistance. This means that the DC converter must lower its voltage to maintain the 30 amps output. When the output
voltage reaches the end of its compliance (about 3.5 volts) a signal is sent to a pair of screw terminals that can be used to
power an LED. When the LED flashes it is time to add water. |
| Connections |
Connections are made by means of screw terminals. The following connections are
available:
1. Input
2. Output
3. Optional thermistor
4. Optional LED to indicate low water level
5. Remote-on
(apply 12 volts to this terminal to turn the DC converter on) |
| Protections |
Automatic resume for all of these:
(1) Input Polarity
(2) Low & High input voltage
(3) Output Short Circuit
(4) Output Over Voltage
(5) Over Temperature |
| Dimensions |
200 x 170 x 70 mm
7.9 x 6.7 x 2.8 inches |
| Drawing |
Click Here for Drawing |
| Weight |
1 kg, 2.2 pounds |
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PowerStream Technology: 140 South Mountainway Drive, Orem
Utah 84058
Phone: 801-764-9060, 9062, 9063, or 9064  Fax: 801-764-9061 |
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PowerStream Technology
140 South Mountainway Dr.
Orem, UT
84058
Phone: 801-764-9060, 9062, 9063, or 9064, 9062, 9063, or 9064
Fax: 801-764-9061
Map &
Directions |
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© Copyright 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005. 2007, 2008 Lund Instrument
Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved This material is copyrighted original work. It is forbidden to use this
information, text, or graphics in full or in part on another web site without written permission. This prohibition includes
making derivative text using automatic thesaurus substitution software. |
Adjustable DC/DC Converter
High Power DC Converter
High power dc/dc converter
12/4 volt DC
converter regulator for hydrogen generation
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