s--p--o--n--i--x wrote:

On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 00:31:20 +0100, Andy Hall
wrote:


You're not supposed to plug it in to the electrolyte, it needs to be
plugged into the wall....


Err....no.

Try this experiment. Take a glass of lemon juice and place a steel
nail and an offcut of copper pipe. Use a multimeter to measure the
voltage between the copper and the steel. You'll find that a voltage
is produced. This is electrolysis.

I think you missed the invisible smilely on Andy's post...

(I susspect he knows how a battery works!)

That's precicely why modern cylinders are fitted with "Sacrificial
anodes"-electrolysis eats away at the anode rather than the copper
pipework.

Works well on oil rigs as well...

A positive effect of electolysis is that it inhibits the build up of
scale.

My question was how much electrolytic "effect" can you get on a single
pass through it?

My question is whether they work well enough to warrant fitting to a
heating system.

From the point of view of the heating side, not really since it is a
single fill application. Yes the water will dump some scale, but once it
has done so it won't do it again.

For the HW side of a system then that is a different matter. If you want
to be sure then use a phosphate dosing system. This will prevent scale
formation (without actually softening the water). The limebuster may or
may not have an effect, but the way you find out is potentially expensive.


--
Cheers,

John.

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