it just keeps exploding!!!! WHY???

[mmhightech]

I am attempting to replicate the flame from a single cell. I should say I am very new to this. I set up a cell using stainless light covers held apart by magnetic spacers held together by a galv. rod through the side of a clear container. I am very impressed at how it seems to bubble and produce with the use of a battery charger on its lowest setting. I did the bubbler (thank God) and came out the lid with a 1/4 inch tube and started with an ink fill needle ( much larger than medical grade). At first I had a very impressive flame for about a half a second then I watched it burn right down the tube and explode. I realized what had happened while my ears were still ringing. My new bubbler now has a cork like top plug so it is more of a controlled pop than an explotion and reuseable. I first tried larger needle(that was stupid) then got small neddles for injections, same thing. The needles are from a vet. but are smal enough that I had problems with my cell leaking under so much pressure from trieng to push all that gas through such a small hole. I have tried the needle of a ball tire pump (like to blow up a football) but am getting no where. The only thing I can think of is to dilute the hydrogen oxygen mix with more air. Like using a fish tank pump to supliment the mixture into the bottom of the bubbler. Anybody have any suggestions, I am not sure how many explosions my wife will put up with.

[Chris]

You're getting "flashbacks" because you are not able to sustain sufficient pressure behind your orafice. In other words your needle is still too large for the amount of gas you are producing.

To fix this problem you need to find a way of building and maintaining more pressure. If your electrolyzer is leaking you MUST stop that. Leaking will never allow you to get up to higher pressures that will prevent your flashbacks.

If you have a small needle 20 gauge or so, you can operate your unit on very little gas with just 1 or 2 psi. You just need to make sure you're not leaking because at low production rates, every bubble counts.

I highly recommend 2 things:

1. Pressure gauge to help you monitor your gas pressure in your unit and save you from dangerous situations.

2. Needle valve near the torch tip so with a quick final 1/2 turn, you can instantly cut off the gas. This saves you from flashing back to the bubbler whenever you want to stop the torch. Remember once you close the valve to immediately switch your unit OFF... otherwise you'll continue to build pressure!!!

[mmhightech]