Electrolysis questions

I know a lot has been posted about this process lately, but I have a few questions. My first problem was just getting my hands on some of that washing soda. No one ever heard of that stuff around here. I found some on line and order two boxes, so I hope that problem is solved. My question is, does the parts have to be suspended in the water like all the diagrams show? This could be a problem with large parts. Can't the part lay on the bottom of the container as long as it don't touch the electrodes? My other concern is with today's battery chargers. The one I have only works if it's connected to a battery. You can plug it in and it won't come on or make a spark, you can even hook it up to a trolling motor for a boat and it won't run it or do anything unless you hook it to a battery. It's a safety thing I guess, I assume most newer chargers are like this. I was thinking about hooking the charger to a battery and running leads from the battery to my set up. Will this work? I have some old chargers but they are small and don't work very well. Thanks Ranse.

I had the same problem finding washing soda. I buy sodium carbonate. It's used to raise the PH in swimming pools. Any place that sells pool chemicals will have it. Walmart, Farm (and no help)Barn etc.

Twenty years ago when I started doing this, our Kroger would maybe have one box of soda, Every week I bought it, I guess over time it tripped something in the computer and their stock started growing. Now there's usually 4-5 boxes there. I believe I must be the only user sometimes. I like it and it's usually cheaper than any of the pool chemicals, except this time of year when all the pool Chem's go on sell at Wally World!

Edited by JoeM(GA) - 10 Aug 2017 at 11:24am

I've used baking soda. not too hard to find.

Arm and Hammer washing soda- in the laundry soap aisle, bottom shelf, Wal Mart #003320003020.