Homebrew PCBs

Hi Adam,

After some testing, it turned out that you were absolutely right. Not
that I really would have doubht it - It came even worse in that the
anode bags - which were wicked around the iron on top of the anodes
soaked up the solution. As a result the iron started to corrode....

I meanwhile have followed your sugestions. That is I made it slightly
different in that I drilled four threads into the anodes from top, and
screwd four solid copper wires into them. On top I also replaced the
iron with plastic bars. The wires are now PVC insulated and I used
glue to isolate the coper wire / anode interface.

You can see pictures of the changes here 

http://www.myhome.ch/mzingg/pcbstuff/tps/ 

click on "updates to the station"

While I think it's now done the way you meant, I still really
apreciate your feedback!

There is another probelm left open with the powersupply. It turns out
that the lamp regulator I use does not start up immediately and as a
result the transformer first outputs about 3V. There are ~40 Amps when
plating starts, and trying to regulate it down leads to the effect
that I can only go down to 10 Amps at about 0.6 V. Below current stops
flowing immediately. I'm now considering adding diodes in row to the
cathode line to have the transformer operate at a higher voltage...

I first hoped that the fact that now that the anodes are floated
completely this would change but it did not.

How did you do your power supply?

Markus