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Efficiency & ripple of electroplating rectifiers

Q. Dear Sir,

Please guide me how I can check the ripple content and the efficiency of my 12 V / 2000 Amp Electroplating rectifier.

JOY BANERJEE
- FARIDABAD, Haryana, INDIA
2002

A. Use a true-rms digital voltmeter on AC range to measure rms AC ripple voltage (call this V_rms). Use the same voltmeter to measure just the DC voltage (call this V_dc). Read the total DC current level from your rectifier(s) (call this I_dc).

The ripple current magnitude (I_rms) in Arms is about:
I_rms = V_rms x I_dc / V_dc

The percentage ripple is then:

% = I_rms / I_dc

Tim Robbins, M.Sc.
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2006

Q. What is ripple factor in rectifier and how it is effecting the plating when used as a dc current? Please suggest how to check the ripple factor in a rectifier.

niol fpnseka
emgineer - SRILANKA
July 15, 2008

July 2008

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A. Hi, Niol. We added your inquiry to a thread that should pretty much answer your questions.

Excessive ripple can cause defective chrome plating and laminated nickel plating. That is not an exhaustive list of potential problems, however; a lot of things can go wrong. It is hard to list every possible thing that might go wrong if you drive at twice the speed limit or if you use a rectifier with too much ripple :-)

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

November 24, 2019

Q. Hello everyone, I'm a beginner and would like to know if the specs of this rectifier can be used for brush and tank plating:

Operating voltage range: 110V~220V
Plug type: US plug
Operating frequency range: 45-65hz
Output voltage range: 0 - 16V
Output current range:0 - 60A
Efficiency (220Vac, full load) 89%
Full load input current (220Vac) 5.1A
No - load input current (220Vac) 180mA
Voltmeter accuracy:0.3% + 1 bit
Ammeter accuracy:0.3% + 2 bits
Constant voltage state
Load regulation (0-100%):30mV
Input voltage regulation(198-264vac): 10mV
Ripple noise (peaks):30mV
Ripple noise (R.M.S) :3mV
Setting accuracy:0.3% + 10mV
Transient response time (50-100% of rated load) :1.0ms
Constant current state
Load regulation (90% -10% rated voltage) :50mA
Input voltage regulation (198-264vac):20mA
Ripple current noise (peaks-peaks) :30mAp-p
Setting accuracy:0.3% + 20mA

Audley Dyer
Coating and Platings Jamaica - Ocho Rios, St Ann, Jamaica

A. Hi Audrey. It sounds fine to me. But, of course, it's possible to have a plating load too big for a 60A rectifier, and 60A sounds like much more than you need for brush plating. Most decorative plating requires about 15 to 40 ASF, depending on what metal you are depositing.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 2019

Q. Thank you so much Mr Mooney I have all the permits and would like to setup a small plating run, copper, nickel, chrome.
I have mixed and operated EN nickel bath using a two part mix using formulas from books I have read. Any help would be appreciated.

Audley Dyer [returning]
Coating and Platings Jamaica - Ocho Rios, St Ann, Jamaica
November 27, 2019

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