So yes, I'll use a PSU for something else than a PC

I want to make water electrolysis out of it, because I need DC.

Jump green to ground...

A car battery charger will work better... I've tried a computer PSU before, terrible (don't ask me why, but very little current traveled through... the connections on the PSU are too high resistance). And have fun finding good electrodes... just about everything short of platinum will corrode (and disappear) within 10 minutes. Stainless steel will last longer, but once using it, I'll guarantee you that one electrode will permanently be rusted out... And it makes some deadly iron gas in one end as well I believe... Then you gotta figure out a way to connect the electrode without exposing wire (copper)...

And be careful with salt as a electrolyte (NaCI) as that will produce chlorine gas in one end... I use baking soda. I forgot if it was the anode or cathode... Are you containing Hydrogen and the oxygen? Let me know how you fare as the hydrogen I create (VERY SLOWLY) keeps diffusing through the containers... I know as I was trying to create hydrogen as a fuel for my potatoes gun... ended up getting H2 with HCI and Al instead (much quicker... and I pressurize it this way too now)... And using electrolysis to make the oxygen...

In fact I want to refill the oxygen bottle of my torch. I thought to a battery charger but I don't have one to throw away. I got this 250W PSU for free so i'll use it.

And if I use gold electrodes ? Yes, my friend who is also interested in the project can provide me with this...

Edit: And should I plug it in 12V molex or on the motherboard power connector ?

Thanks to both of you for the info

on the main atx connector use the 4th and 5th pins from left to right on the side with the clip view with the clip at top it will be a green wire and a black wire going into the pins

You mean that I should connect the electrodes on these pins, or it is simply for starting the PSU ?

I suggest you look up the wiring of standard ATX power supplies before attempting anything...

easiest way to do it is to jump the pins with a paper clip

I know you understand, since you've done this, but it's NaCl (sodium = Na, chloride = Cl, solid) and HCl (hydrogen = H, chloride = Cl, gas)

unless you made some Sodium-Carbon-Iodide and Hydro-Carbon-Iodine ?

The Smith, are you actually serious about home-made oxygen production using a 250W PC PSU?

I think he is... He's doing it with me.

Lol, yes...

But guys I don't need that the reaction occurs quicky...

And for Noxx, I got another PSU, a 150W this time

Edit: What about graphite electrodes ?

if you don't know how to start a PSU or which electrode material to use, do you think it is wise to consider producing quantities of oxygen and hydrogen?

maybe you could make a Zeppelin with the hydrogen produced?

Lol I don't know what's a Zeppelin...

And yes maybe it is not wise but it seems to be easy...I'll see when I'll try...

Hindenburg

have fun making hydrogen and oxygen lol

I think just the word Hindenburg could have been the "WIN" response to this thread, no link at all just the single word "Hindenburg"...

The Hindenburg... That was a massive piece of engineering... only it sucked a bit

cant you just buy bottled oxygen? sounds easier and safer (cos i dont know how you would get unpressurized bubbles into a pressurized bottle)

The Hindenburg...

For pressurizing it, I will simply use a small air compressor...

Edit: And bottled oxygen is expensive. 15$ for a bottle that contains oxygen for 10 mins

Hey yesterday I did water electrolysis with a 200W PSU. And the reaction was very slow... At least it was working...

I connected the electrodes on the 5V rail. But is there a way to use the whole power the PSU can deliver ?

I also used graphite electrodes. It worked very well.

Yeah, It took forever to fill up a small water bottle using graphite. I usually leave it running over night (hoping it doesn't catch on fire ). And no, I don't think there's a way to use the entire PSU. Why not the 12v rail? The 12v is usually the largest rail on a PSU.

Oh, and I stopped using graphite as it was horrible in comparison to large chunks of stainless steel (in terms of gas production).

Yeah I looked on the power supply and it sais that it was able to deliver 22A on the 5V rail and 8A I think on the 12V rail. And what matters is the current, which represents the flow of electrons throughout the oxido-reduction reaction ? Am I right ?

Right right, greater current is usually better for these reactions. However, I don't think the difference between 5V and 12V is too great. Just a heads up though, going with too small of a voltage means you'll get greater resistance. How far apart are the electrodes? There's a big difference when the electrodes are closer.

I did the electrolysis in a beaker so they were very close.

I got something else that could deliver DC. I found a small charger in the garbage. It's like the ones we use for carging electric cars. In fact, I think it was used to charge a marine VHF radio. I opened it and there is an ondulator and two wires coming out of the small plastic box. So it's not as big as a car battery charger but could it be more effective ?