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Reference Electrode 101
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PGIBOB
#1 Posted : Saturday, January 22, 2011 10:05:11 AM(UTC)
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I am working on a 28 1985 Fishermen. I have been checking the wiring and found where the reference electrode comes thru the hull. It was almost impossible to see until I crawled directly under the boat. Almost forgot, the boat is on land! The electrode has been painted over, I think more than once. I started to remove the coating from the electrode with a soft towel and L thinner. The black coating is coming off, but I am not sure what I should see when I reach the actual electrode. That's the RE 101 question; What does the electrode look like? Is it silver, gold or whatever? Can I ruin it by using the strong solvent to clean it up?

Thanks
Bob Chapman
Punta Gorda, FLBigM BigM
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ComputerJoe
#2 Posted : Saturday, January 22, 2011 10:58:59 AM(UTC)
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I doubt you could hurt it with paint solvent. The silver oxide coating is electroplated to the brass.
Problem might be that someone else might have wire brushed it before you. I am choking at the price of a new electrode am looking for an old silver spoon to re-electroplate it since I was not born with one. Worth a try anyway.
http://www.therightscoop.com/open-thread-grinding-america-down/
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Docsnow
#3 Posted : Saturday, January 22, 2011 11:07:13 AM(UTC)
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Bob,

If U R ask about the Capac sensor here's what it looks like

http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c88/awonyc/?action=view&current=CapacLowerunit.jpg

But if it has been painted over as U stated I'm pretty sure U R $hit outta luck on restoring it but hell give it a try Think what do have to lose. Those units cost some where around $275 big ones Brick wall AnyWho H T H Whistle

Norm,

Big BigMs Live On Dancing
http://www.picturetrail.com/gid23690601 Try it now there's music to listen to while U view the Big M's

http://www.PictureTrail.com/club/club/index.php?clubID=20726 this one for the Pix club


 You'll have bad times, but they'll just wake you up to the good times you weren't paying attention to

Some people try to turn back their odometers.Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way.I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
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PGIBOB
#4 Posted : Saturday, January 22, 2011 11:46:38 AM(UTC)
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Thanks Norm,

That's exactly what I was looking for, the picture says it all. I will go back and work (slowly) on the electrode and see what shows under all the paint, etc. Once I get it cleaned maybe you guys and tell me if I have a usable one or not.

Thanks again
Bob
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Docsnow
#5 Posted : Saturday, January 22, 2011 10:37:46 PM(UTC)
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Bob,

As you probably know, the Capac meter is just a voltage meter that measures the DC voltage created by the ““battery effect”” of dissimilar metals reacting in an electrolyte bath. As the meter states, our aluminum is protected from corrosion if the voltage is between .90 and 1.05 volts

Your probe is the reference electrode (positive) leading to the meter. The other wire on the back of the meter is grounded to the hull. The reference electrode is made of silver (a stable bio-unfriendly metal like copper) which is then electroplated with a silver chloride coating for even more corrosion
protection. Even without it's silver chloride coating (amonium will dilute it), the electrode will still work. But if it's painted over, it will be insulated and won't work. Those few barnacles should not prevent your probe from working.

If you want to test it while on the hard, use a 1.5 volt flashlight battery (D, C or AA it doesn't matter)
Connect the negative end of the battery with a wire to the aluminum hull, and touch the positive end of the battery to the reference electrode while a friend pushes the button on the meter. If it reads close to 1.5 volts, the probe is working. If it doesn't, it might be a bad meter or bad connections at the terminals, the splice in the wire from the probe, or a bad ground wire to the hull.

One of the members posted this a while back. So I saved it for times like this, where some member might need this worthy Info Applause AnyWho hope this will help U when U get the senor cleaned up Dancing

Norm,

Big BigMs Live On Dancing
http://www.picturetrail.com/gid23690601 Try it now there's music to listen to while U view the Big M's

http://www.PictureTrail.com/club/club/index.php?clubID=20726 this one for the Pix club


 You'll have bad times, but they'll just wake you up to the good times you weren't paying attention to

Some people try to turn back their odometers.Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way.I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
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PGIBOB
#6 Posted : Sunday, January 23, 2011 1:50:43 AM(UTC)
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Wow! That was better than the 101 course I requested. I have a manual which came with my first Marinette which explains the workings but it never really made sense. Now I think I can see the light. I will try the test you mentioned and see what I get, after I get the reference cleaned to the metal surface.
How do we upload pictures and attach to our posts? Is there a short manual on the workings of this forum.

By the way, you guys have a wealth of information as you seem to have 'been there and done that' on most of my questions. As my better half says 'they have made all the mistakes' so I won't!

Thanks

Bob
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Barkleydave
#7 Posted : Sunday, January 23, 2011 1:54:35 AM(UTC)
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Your meter actually is reading negative voltage so a ready of -.95 volts would be indicate a protection. Readings will tend to read lower if fresh water. The fresher the water the lower the average reading since the cleaner the water the less conductivity. Perfectly clean water is actually an insulator.

dave
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dougrose
#8 Posted : Sunday, January 23, 2011 3:22:30 AM(UTC)
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I put my photos on photobucket.com (you will need a free account) and then use the link provided for each photo to embed into the post. That way, there is no concern about overloading this forum, and I find it handy to have my boat photos out there in the cloud anyway.....


1975 32' Flybridge Sedan, twin Perkins 6-354 diesels, 1:1.53 velvetdrives, 16 X 19 props. Merritt Island, Florida
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Docsnow
#9 Posted : Sunday, January 23, 2011 5:26:06 AM(UTC)
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Bob,

As Doug stated Photobucket or the likes of it right now seems to be the best way to upload Pix till Joe H. figures a way to remedy the problem of the upload system on the BigM Site. Bob, as your better ½ said former members been thru all the mistakes if it’s possible to be done to a BigM Someone on this site has done it & others have perfected it. A Big Thanks to the likes of Capt Wayne, Mighty Free, Deeb, the original founder of the old BigM Last but not least Joe Howard our present Administrator for maintaining this GREAT SITES Applause Applause Applause & others that have contributed their time & Knowledge. Than there are some of the newer members that I won’t mention but they know who they are so as not to embarrass them or in one case give a swollen ego too. Angel Hey U younger Capts. Keep up this site when us old timers sail off into the sunset as a few of them already have. Boo hoo! For these BigM Will more than likely out last more than a few of us. Brick wall

Norm,

Big BigMs Live On Dancing
http://www.picturetrail.com/gid23690601 Try it now there's music to listen to while U view the Big M's

http://www.PictureTrail.com/club/club/index.php?clubID=20726 this one for the Pix club


 You'll have bad times, but they'll just wake you up to the good times you weren't paying attention to

Some people try to turn back their odometers.Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way.I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
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PGIBOB
#10 Posted : Wednesday, January 26, 2011 2:10:21 AM(UTC)
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Back again, I returned to the boat and continued cleaning the old paint off the RElectrode. When I got close to the metal I found a small hole in the metal layer. I was able, w/o much effort to pick the corner of the hole and easily make it bigger. I could see the gold color on the underside of the metal layer. So, I have a hole in the ER and am $#*& out of luck, right?
I did some initial looking on the web for places that sell the corrosion system parts. I haven't found any so I am back to pick some more brains. From your experience, where is a good place to purchase the ER alone. I tested the monitor and it reads OK.
I need some help on where I can purchase the ER. I think you have said it costs about $270, right. Like it or not I have to buy one.

I have attached a photo of the ER with the hole in it, at 3 o'clock. (I hope - first attempt of uploading a photo using Phototbucket, as recommended) Is this correct, just the link address is in the post, not the picture.

http://s1176.photobucket.com/albums/x338/PGIBOB/?action=view&current=e03eb2d6.jpg
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trontek
#11 Posted : Wednesday, January 26, 2011 8:58:07 AM(UTC)
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Trying to learn further - Isn't the reference electrode just the negative meter lead of out CAPAC meter, with a large, silver plated area(since silver is such a good conductor of electricity) for better contact with the "electrolite" our boat is sitting in?? Looks as tho gold would be better(but NOT nowdays!).

Bet y'all think its the Burgundy again - but I just now poured the first glass!
Jim

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Docsnow
#12 Posted : Wednesday, January 26, 2011 9:08:30 AM(UTC)
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trontek wrote:
Bet y'all think its the Burgundy again - but I just now poured the first glass!


JIM,

NAW Dancing Enjoy the glass or 2 or 3 Drool

Norm,

Big BigMs Live On Applause
http://www.picturetrail.com/gid23690601 Try it now there's music to listen to while U view the Big M's

http://www.PictureTrail.com/club/club/index.php?clubID=20726 this one for the Pix club


 You'll have bad times, but they'll just wake you up to the good times you weren't paying attention to

Some people try to turn back their odometers.Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way.I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
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trontek
#13 Posted : Wednesday, January 26, 2011 9:48:43 AM(UTC)
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I was pacin' th' floor for a comment on the meter probe - looks like I'll get better response from the Burgundy....Thanks, Norm gonna go pour my second one before I hit the bunk. Almost all of our snow has stopped, hope its gone for this year.
Jim

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