EcoRenovator - View Single Post

Xringer · 10-23-12, 07:40 AM

I've seen those little 'Do Not Eat' bags in electronics packaging for decades (it seems).
Pretty sure they don't out-gas corrosives.

I looked up how they make the stuff used in these little units..

A solution of sodium silicate is acidified to produce a gelatinous precipitate that is washed, then dehydrated to produce colorless silica gel.[5] When a visible indication of the moisture content of the silica gel is required, ammonium tetrachlorocobaltate(II) (NH4)2CoCl4 or cobalt chloride CoCl2 is added.[5] This will cause the gel to be blue when dry and pink when hydrated.[5] An alternative indicator is methyl violet which is orange when dry and green when hydrated.

Blue and Pink is what we got..

~~~

If these units aren't up to the job, they can always be used in the upstairs closets.

One idea that I've been thinking about is using a heated element (red-hot)
to dry air out and pump it into the storage containers using small hoses.
This Dry Air unit would be powered up every day when there was good solar.
PV use makes the power cost minimal.

I'll have to look at some of the designs used for dry air for SCUBA etc,
to figure out if this can done as a DIY project.

Edit:
Just looked on Ebay and they aren't cheap..

But, another idea just occurred to me. I have a good source of (free) dry air in the basement already.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothe...-heater-8.html

I could tap into the dry air coming out of the AirTap A7 ASHP (hotwater heater).
There is a 120Vac accessory socket on the A7 that is powered while the compressor is running. Plug-n-play!

10-23-12, 07:40 AM	#8
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I've seen those little 'Do Not Eat' bags in electronics packaging for decades (it seems). Pretty sure they don't out-gas corrosives. I looked up how they make the stuff used in these little units.. A solution of sodium silicate is acidified to produce a gelatinous precipitate that is washed, then dehydrated to produce colorless silica gel.[5] When a visible indication of the moisture content of the silica gel is required, ammonium tetrachlorocobaltate(II) (NH4)2CoCl4 or cobalt chloride CoCl2 is added.[5] This will cause the gel to be blue when dry and pink when hydrated.[5] An alternative indicator is methyl violet which is orange when dry and green when hydrated. Blue and Pink is what we got.. ~~~ If these units aren't up to the job, they can always be used in the upstairs closets. One idea that I've been thinking about is using a heated element (red-hot) to dry air out and pump it into the storage containers using small hoses. This Dry Air unit would be powered up every day when there was good solar. PV use makes the power cost minimal. I'll have to look at some of the designs used for dry air for SCUBA etc, to figure out if this can done as a DIY project. Edit: Just looked on Ebay and they aren't cheap.. But, another idea just occurred to me. I have a good source of (free) dry air in the basement already. http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothe...-heater-8.html I could tap into the dry air coming out of the AirTap A7 ASHP (hotwater heater). There is a 120Vac accessory socket on the A7 that is powered while the compressor is running. Plug-n-play! __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. Last edited by Xringer; 10-23-12 at 07:51 AM.. Reason: A7 idea.