Impressed current systems are a waste of money.
Submitted: Monday, Feb 02, 2015 at 15:05
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3.2U CORROSION SPECIALIST
For what its worth I was reading another post and wanted to reply but it appears to be closed so Ill just reply here.
I have one on the 2nd and vehicle I purchased and have disconnected it as all it does is flatten the battery when im away. It draws .05 of an amp!!
I work offshore on oil and gas platforms where impressed current systems are seen. Im a CSWIP qualified 3.2U if you want to know my quals.
Now impressed current cathodic protection systems do work, the steel just has to be immersed in an electrolyte. On a platform very basic version is you have a generator running topside with the platform hooked up to the negative terminal and the impressed current anodes hooked up to the positive and the current flows though the salt water and protects the structure from corrosion.
here is the big simple point why thei wont work on your vehicle unless its submerged in water.
1. The anode is insulated from the structure.
2. This system does not work above the waterline, nor is it effective in the splash zone!! Why because the structure needs the electrolyte to work the current flows through the electrolyte. If it worked in the air it would be the corrosion protection system above the water line, but it isnt, its purely the paint coat that stops corrosion above the waterline and keeping in maintained.
Reply By: Erad - Tuesday, Feb 03, 2015 at 09:16
Tuesday, Feb 03, 2015 at 09:16
3.2U's teatment of the corrosion problem is good. You do need an electrolyte for corrosion to occur. In most 4WD applications, the chassis and body are dry for most of the time - you don't have any electrolyte in the affected areas and you would not have any impressed current flowing. However, when the affected areas do get wet - with fresh water or salty - then corrosion can and does occur. For the rest of the time, no current would flow and no corrosion will occur either. Remember that with Oil Rigs, buried gas pipelines etc, they are exposed all the time, and also normally have a significant wall thickness of steel (including corrosion allowance). Motor vehicles have very thin sections, and are not normally designed with corrosion in mind. So therefore the systems may actually work in preventing corrosion.
Paint is still the best medium for corrosion prevention for cars, trucks etc, and the electro protections are merely a supplement. And no - I don't have an electric protection system on my vehicles, and I don't have the need for one either.
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