mixing water with electricity is typically discouraged and for good
typically discouraged and for good
typically discouraged and for good reason but in this project we’re pumping
reason but in this project we’re pumping
reason but in this project we’re pumping electricity into water with a bit of
electricity into water with a bit of
electricity into water with a bit of drain cleaner to create a poor man’s
drain cleaner to create a poor man’s
drain cleaner to create a poor man’s power controller you might have heard of
power controller you might have heard of
power controller you might have heard of a very AK this is the scary AK
in a couple of other projects we
in a couple of other projects we fashioned a homemade stick welder using
fashioned a homemade stick welder using
fashioned a homemade stick welder using parts we salvaged from old appliances I
parts we salvaged from old appliances I
parts we salvaged from old appliances I powered the device with 240 volts AC and
powered the device with 240 volts AC and
powered the device with 240 volts AC and that was plenty of power but we still
that was plenty of power but we still
that was plenty of power but we still needed a way to adjust the current I
needed a way to adjust the current I
needed a way to adjust the current I built this device to control alternating
built this device to control alternating
built this device to control alternating current so we have the ability to play
current so we have the ability to play
current so we have the ability to play with adjustable power settings on a
with adjustable power settings on a
with adjustable power settings on a budget now this concept is about as
budget now this concept is about as
budget now this concept is about as dangerous as sticking to live wires in a
dangerous as sticking to live wires in a
dangerous as sticking to live wires in a bucket of water it can be deadly so it’s
bucket of water it can be deadly so it’s
bucket of water it can be deadly so it’s important to know and understand the
important to know and understand the
important to know and understand the risks to build this scary act will need
risks to build this scary act will need
risks to build this scary act will need a four gallon container to hold our
a four gallon container to hold our
a four gallon container to hold our electrolyte and I like this one because
electrolyte and I like this one because
electrolyte and I like this one because it’s got a lid that snaps on tight I cut
it’s got a lid that snaps on tight I cut
it’s got a lid that snaps on tight I cut a piece of board so that it measures at
a piece of board so that it measures at
a piece of board so that it measures at 16 inches by 14 inches because that fits
16 inches by 14 inches because that fits
16 inches by 14 inches because that fits on top leaving a three inch overhang on
on top leaving a three inch overhang on
on top leaving a three inch overhang on the side I made this plastic template
the side I made this plastic template
the side I made this plastic template for marking holes for where the switch
for marking holes for where the switch
for marking holes for where the switch and outlet will go and a few other
and outlet will go and a few other
and outlet will go and a few other markings based on these measurements to
markings based on these measurements to
markings based on these measurements to cut the holes out let’s drill the
cut the holes out let’s drill the
cut the holes out let’s drill the corners first and use a jigsaw to cut
corners first and use a jigsaw to cut
corners first and use a jigsaw to cut the sides we can use the light switch as
the sides we can use the light switch as
the sides we can use the light switch as a template for marking where the two
a template for marking where the two
a template for marking where the two holes will need to be drilled this part
holes will need to be drilled this part
holes will need to be drilled this part is optional but let’s go ahead and
is optional but let’s go ahead and
is optional but let’s go ahead and finish the edges with a half-inch
finish the edges with a half-inch
finish the edges with a half-inch rounding bit on the router table by
rounding bit on the router table by
rounding bit on the router table by profiling the tops and bottoms of all
profiling the tops and bottoms of all
profiling the tops and bottoms of all the edges we’re left with a nice smooth
the edges we’re left with a nice smooth
the edges we’re left with a nice smooth finish next we’ll need two pieces of 2×2
finish next we’ll need two pieces of 2×2
finish next we’ll need two pieces of 2×2 and I had these ones leftover from when
and I had these ones leftover from when
and I had these ones leftover from when we made our mousetrap handguns which you
we made our mousetrap handguns which you
we made our mousetrap handguns which you can see in a different project I drilled
can see in a different project I drilled
can see in a different project I drilled a hole through the sides of the blocks
a hole through the sides of the blocks
a hole through the sides of the blocks half an inch from the top and cut them
half an inch from the top and cut them
half an inch from the top and cut them down to one and a quarter inches so they
down to one and a quarter inches so they
down to one and a quarter inches so they look like this these blocks will need to
look like this these blocks will need to
look like this these blocks will need to be secured flush with the top of the
be secured flush with the top of the
be secured flush with the top of the center hole so let’s trace the edges and
center hole so let’s trace the edges and
center hole so let’s trace the edges and drill four pilot holes on diagonals
drill four pilot holes on diagonals
drill four pilot holes on diagonals they’ll eventually be held in place with
they’ll eventually be held in place with
they’ll eventually be held in place with screws from the bottom side I gave these
screws from the bottom side I gave these
screws from the bottom side I gave these parts of paint job and now the panel
parts of paint job and now the panel
parts of paint job and now the panel board is complete and we can move on to
board is complete and we can move on to
board is complete and we can move on to constructing the power lever all the
constructing the power lever all the
constructing the power lever all the parts for the power lever are laid out
parts for the power lever are laid out
parts for the power lever are laid out here and you can see they’re mainly 1/2
here and you can see they’re mainly 1/2
here and you can see they’re mainly 1/2 inch PVC parts as well as these other
inch PVC parts as well as these other
inch PVC parts as well as these other miscellaneous bits of hardware now we
miscellaneous bits of hardware now we
miscellaneous bits of hardware now we can get to work priming and cementing
can get to work priming and cementing
can get to work priming and cementing the PVC together so that we end up with
the PVC together so that we end up with
the PVC together so that we end up with two sections that look like this they’ll
two sections that look like this they’ll
two sections that look like this they’ll be fit together later on but here you
be fit together later on but here you
be fit together later on but here you can get a basic idea of how it’s gonna
can get a basic idea of how it’s gonna
can get a basic idea of how it’s gonna work
work
work we’ll need to mark and drill hole right
we’ll need to mark and drill hole right
we’ll need to mark and drill hole right through the lower part of the tee then
through the lower part of the tee then
through the lower part of the tee then make the hole bigger on the inner sides
make the hole bigger on the inner sides
make the hole bigger on the inner sides the hole has to be just big enough to
the hole has to be just big enough to
the hole has to be just big enough to allow the head of a two and a half inch
allow the head of a two and a half inch
allow the head of a two and a half inch bolt to pass through here you can see I
bolt to pass through here you can see I
bolt to pass through here you can see I added a metal washer and a beveled
added a metal washer and a beveled
added a metal washer and a beveled rubber washer on the inside at this
rubber washer on the inside at this
rubber washer on the inside at this point the two parts of the handle could
point the two parts of the handle could
point the two parts of the handle could be cemented together and the excess glue
be cemented together and the excess glue
be cemented together and the excess glue wiped away I decided to paint the handle
wiped away I decided to paint the handle
wiped away I decided to paint the handle red to give it a nice contrast against
red to give it a nice contrast against
red to give it a nice contrast against the black we can add a rubber washer to
the black we can add a rubber washer to
the black we can add a rubber washer to the bolt first and the block gets pushed
the bolt first and the block gets pushed
the bolt first and the block gets pushed on next until you see about a quarter
on next until you see about a quarter
on next until you see about a quarter inch of the bolt poking out on the end I
inch of the bolt poking out on the end I
inch of the bolt poking out on the end I added a washer and a wingnut to hold it
added a washer and a wingnut to hold it
added a washer and a wingnut to hold it in place and now we have the ability to
in place and now we have the ability to
in place and now we have the ability to adjust the tension on the power lever
adjust the tension on the power lever
adjust the tension on the power lever now that our blocks are attached let’s
now that our blocks are attached let’s
now that our blocks are attached let’s push the bottom part of the handle
push the bottom part of the handle
push the bottom part of the handle through the hole and secure the blocks
through the hole and secure the blocks
through the hole and secure the blocks to the board using the screws lined up
to the board using the screws lined up
to the board using the screws lined up earlier at this point we’re ready to
earlier at this point we’re ready to
earlier at this point we’re ready to wire up the electrical and this is how
wire up the electrical and this is how
wire up the electrical and this is how it’s gonna look when it’s finished I
it’s gonna look when it’s finished I
it’s gonna look when it’s finished I started with two seventeen inch pieces
started with two seventeen inch pieces
started with two seventeen inch pieces of half-inch copper tubing
of half-inch copper tubing
of half-inch copper tubing let’s make four markings at three four
let’s make four markings at three four
let’s make four markings at three four and a half and twelve and a half and
and a half and twelve and a half and
and a half and twelve and a half and fourteen inches that should leave us
fourteen inches that should leave us
fourteen inches that should leave us with an 8 inch gap between the middle
with an 8 inch gap between the middle
with an 8 inch gap between the middle markings now we can use a hammer or
markings now we can use a hammer or
markings now we can use a hammer or bench vise to compress the copper
bench vise to compress the copper
bench vise to compress the copper allowing us to bend it over easily when
allowing us to bend it over easily when
allowing us to bend it over easily when all the markings have been compressed
all the markings have been compressed
all the markings have been compressed including the tips the electrode can be
including the tips the electrode can be
including the tips the electrode can be formed into a rectangle and should look
formed into a rectangle and should look
formed into a rectangle and should look like this I’ve drilled a hole through
like this I’ve drilled a hole through
like this I’ve drilled a hole through the center of the tips continuing into
the center of the tips continuing into
the center of the tips continuing into the tube itself but only through one
the tube itself but only through one
the tube itself but only through one side of it for this electrode let’s add
side of it for this electrode let’s add
side of it for this electrode let’s add a four inch plastic PVC riser so that it
a four inch plastic PVC riser so that it
a four inch plastic PVC riser so that it lines up flush with one of the edges
lines up flush with one of the edges
lines up flush with one of the edges then we can put a screw right through it
then we can put a screw right through it
then we can put a screw right through it so it’s held between the two pieces of
so it’s held between the two pieces of
so it’s held between the two pieces of copper if the other end of this riser
copper if the other end of this riser
copper if the other end of this riser can screw into the bottom of our power
can screw into the bottom of our power
can screw into the bottom of our power lever and making sure the copper bar is
lever and making sure the copper bar is
lever and making sure the copper bar is facing forward the other four inch riser
facing forward the other four inch riser
facing forward the other four inch riser gets added into the power lever and can
gets added into the power lever and can
gets added into the power lever and can be secured to the copper as well to form
be secured to the copper as well to form
be secured to the copper as well to form the second electrode holder I added a
the second electrode holder I added a
the second electrode holder I added a PVC cap to a six inch PVC riser and used
PVC cap to a six inch PVC riser and used
PVC cap to a six inch PVC riser and used a belt sander to cryed away at the top
a belt sander to cryed away at the top
a belt sander to cryed away at the top until it was completely flat with the
until it was completely flat with the
until it was completely flat with the power lever in the full upright position
power lever in the full upright position
power lever in the full upright position we can get a feel for where the longer
we can get a feel for where the longer
we can get a feel for where the longer risers will need to be attached
risers will need to be attached
risers will need to be attached using two screws for each riser we can
using two screws for each riser we can
using two screws for each riser we can fight down into the riser caps securing
fight down into the riser caps securing
fight down into the riser caps securing them in position now the second
them in position now the second
them in position now the second electrode can be added adjusting it so
electrode can be added adjusting it so
electrode can be added adjusting it so it’s the same height as the first and of
it’s the same height as the first and of
it’s the same height as the first and of course two more screws will fix the
course two more screws will fix the
course two more screws will fix the copper in place now it’s time to rig up
copper in place now it’s time to rig up
copper in place now it’s time to rig up the wiring for this contraption I’ve got
the wiring for this contraption I’ve got
the wiring for this contraption I’ve got some 12 gauge cable and a two prong plug
some 12 gauge cable and a two prong plug
some 12 gauge cable and a two prong plug the plug opens up allowing us to connect
the plug opens up allowing us to connect
the plug opens up allowing us to connect our two wires and screws back together
our two wires and screws back together
our two wires and screws back together completing this end of the cable the
completing this end of the cable the
completing this end of the cable the black wire from the cable runs to the
black wire from the cable runs to the
black wire from the cable runs to the light switch first and connects to the
light switch first and connects to the
light switch first and connects to the screw on the far side the wire is cut
screw on the far side the wire is cut
screw on the far side the wire is cut and connected to the other screw on the
and connected to the other screw on the
and connected to the other screw on the switch then continues to this hole
switch then continues to this hole
switch then continues to this hole drilled through the board on the top
drilled through the board on the top
drilled through the board on the top side you can see the wire is bent over
side you can see the wire is bent over
side you can see the wire is bent over in an arch and goes back through the
in an arch and goes back through the
in an arch and goes back through the board where it continues to the
board where it continues to the
board where it continues to the electrode on the power lever the
electrode on the power lever the
electrode on the power lever the electrode wire can simply be connected
electrode wire can simply be connected
electrode wire can simply be connected by looping it behind the existing screw
by looping it behind the existing screw
by looping it behind the existing screw and fastening tight let’s use another
and fastening tight let’s use another
and fastening tight let’s use another piece of the black wire and connect it
piece of the black wire and connect it
piece of the black wire and connect it to the other electrode in the same way
to the other electrode in the same way
to the other electrode in the same way you can see this wire connects to the
you can see this wire connects to the
you can see this wire connects to the outlet and gets held on with one of the
outlet and gets held on with one of the
outlet and gets held on with one of the gold screws this silver screw is
gold screws this silver screw is
gold screws this silver screw is connected to the white wire running from
connected to the white wire running from
connected to the white wire running from the cable and this completes our
the cable and this completes our
the cable and this completes our electrical work at this point we can
electrical work at this point we can
electrical work at this point we can fasten the light switch and the outlet
fasten the light switch and the outlet
fasten the light switch and the outlet onto the control board and add the face
onto the control board and add the face
onto the control board and add the face plates for a finishing touch this
plates for a finishing touch this
plates for a finishing touch this control panel is fully functional but if
control panel is fully functional but if
control panel is fully functional but if you wanted to add a little more safety
you wanted to add a little more safety
you wanted to add a little more safety you put out a replaceable fuse or even
you put out a replaceable fuse or even
you put out a replaceable fuse or even wire up a circuit breaker to finish up
wire up a circuit breaker to finish up
wire up a circuit breaker to finish up the system we’ll just need to modify
the system we’ll just need to modify
the system we’ll just need to modify this lid we can use a rotary tool with a
this lid we can use a rotary tool with a
this lid we can use a rotary tool with a cutting wheel to cut along the inner
cutting wheel to cut along the inner
cutting wheel to cut along the inner edges leaving just the rim intact the
edges leaving just the rim intact the
edges leaving just the rim intact the inside hole has to be large enough to
inside hole has to be large enough to
inside hole has to be large enough to allow both electrodes to fit in freely
allow both electrodes to fit in freely
allow both electrodes to fit in freely and when it’s centered on the top we can
and when it’s centered on the top we can
and when it’s centered on the top we can screw together the four corners so it’s
screw together the four corners so it’s
screw together the four corners so it’s all attached this way it clamps into
all attached this way it clamps into
all attached this way it clamps into position perfectly every time I wanted
position perfectly every time I wanted
position perfectly every time I wanted to add a piece of trim around the power
to add a piece of trim around the power
to add a piece of trim around the power leaver so I stopped at the grocery store
leaver so I stopped at the grocery store
leaver so I stopped at the grocery store and picked up a container of bean dip
and picked up a container of bean dip
and picked up a container of bean dip the empty container is exactly the right
the empty container is exactly the right
the empty container is exactly the right size and with just a little cutting and
size and with just a little cutting and
size and with just a little cutting and two pieces of double-sided sticky tape
two pieces of double-sided sticky tape
two pieces of double-sided sticky tape and now it’s right behind the power
and now it’s right behind the power
and now it’s right behind the power later our last step is to mix the
later our last step is to mix the
later our last step is to mix the electrolyte I’m using about two gallons
electrolyte I’m using about two gallons
electrolyte I’m using about two gallons of tap water and that fills the
of tap water and that fills the
of tap water and that fills the container up halfway to make the water
container up halfway to make the water
container up halfway to make the water more conductive we’ll be using this
more conductive we’ll be using this
more conductive we’ll be using this crystal drain cleaner because it’s a
crystal drain cleaner because it’s a
crystal drain cleaner because it’s a hundred percent wide this stuff is so
hundred percent wide this stuff is so
hundred percent wide this stuff is so dangerous and so potent that we’ll only
dangerous and so potent that we’ll only
dangerous and so potent that we’ll only need a quarter of a teaspoon and extent
need a quarter of a teaspoon and extent
need a quarter of a teaspoon and extent to the entire solution now we can secure
to the entire solution now we can secure
to the entire solution now we can secure the control board in place connect the
the control board in place connect the
the control board in place connect the plug to a power source and test it out
plug to a power source and test it out
plug to a power source and test it out let’s make sure the power lever is
let’s make sure the power lever is
let’s make sure the power lever is pushed fully forward before the switch
pushed fully forward before the switch
pushed fully forward before the switch is turned on now the system is powered
is turned on now the system is powered
is turned on now the system is powered and you can see that if we gently pull
and you can see that if we gently pull
and you can see that if we gently pull the lever back the light begins to glow
the lever back the light begins to glow
the lever back the light begins to glow dimly and if we pull it all the way back
dimly and if we pull it all the way back
dimly and if we pull it all the way back it increases to full intensity the
it increases to full intensity the
it increases to full intensity the switch is a kill switch and will cut the
switch is a kill switch and will cut the
switch is a kill switch and will cut the power to the system in an instant the
power to the system in an instant the
power to the system in an instant the main purpose of this contraption is to
main purpose of this contraption is to
main purpose of this contraption is to regulate current to our electrical
regulate current to our electrical
regulate current to our electrical devices adding just a little power to an
devices adding just a little power to an
devices adding just a little power to an angle grinder will cause the device to
angle grinder will cause the device to
angle grinder will cause the device to spin very slowly but pulling back on the
spin very slowly but pulling back on the
spin very slowly but pulling back on the lever will increase the power until it
lever will increase the power until it
lever will increase the power until it reaches full speed the control panel has
reaches full speed the control panel has
reaches full speed the control panel has this loop of black wire that allows us
this loop of black wire that allows us
this loop of black wire that allows us to monitor the amperage in high power
to monitor the amperage in high power
to monitor the amperage in high power applications like the arc welding
applications like the arc welding
applications like the arc welding project you can see that if we pull back
project you can see that if we pull back
project you can see that if we pull back on the lever the current climbs higher
on the lever the current climbs higher
on the lever the current climbs higher an interesting observation is that the
an interesting observation is that the
an interesting observation is that the voltage is pretty much constant through
voltage is pretty much constant through
voltage is pretty much constant through the entire cycle the system can handle
the entire cycle the system can handle
the entire cycle the system can handle extremely high electrical loads and in
extremely high electrical loads and in
extremely high electrical loads and in contrast it can also make a table saw
contrast it can also make a table saw
contrast it can also make a table saw turn at a snail’s pace pushing forward
turn at a snail’s pace pushing forward
turn at a snail’s pace pushing forward on the lever increases the electrolytic
on the lever increases the electrolytic
on the lever increases the electrolytic resistance and as a result the equipment
resistance and as a result the equipment
resistance and as a result the equipment slows down or comes to a full stop well
slows down or comes to a full stop well
slows down or comes to a full stop well now you know you can control electricity
now you know you can control electricity
now you know you can control electricity with water and a bit of drain cleaner
with water and a bit of drain cleaner
with water and a bit of drain cleaner remember that this has the power to kill
remember that this has the power to kill
remember that this has the power to kill you and that’s why it’s called the scary
you and that’s why it’s called the scary
you and that’s why it’s called the scary AK if you liked this project perhaps
AK if you liked this project perhaps
AK if you liked this project perhaps you’ll like some of my others check them
you’ll like some of my others check them
you’ll like some of my others check them out at the king of random calm
out at the king of random calm
out at the king of random calm [Music]
”
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