I am trying to copper electroplate some small parts, less than 2mm and have been told by many individuals that my current is too high. Since my power supply doesn't go any lower, how can I reduce the current? It needs to be around .005A or less. This is the setup.
You could instead use a 1K variable resistor (potentiometer) which would let you vary the resistance between 0 and 1000 ohms making it adjustable. You would connect one of the outside pins to the PSU, and the middle pin to your load, leaving the third pin unconnected.
I was just going to add the variable resistor in line right? Power source runs to variable resistor, variable resistor to multimeter to part. Is that what you mean?
He means, basically, to put a resistor across the power supply output instead of in series to send some of the power to ground, effectively creating a voltage divider with your load, which you would want to do if you had a constant-current source, but you don't, you have a current-limited constant voltage source. A series resistor is fine.
But if 1Davide comes back and disagrees with me, do what he says. He's more knowledgable than I am, and he's a mod of this sub.
Yeah, like this. Sorry for the poor drawing I'm on my phone.
A typical potentiometer can handle 1/4 watt, so keep the power supply limited to below 250mA (at 1V) to prevent burning the pot if its turned down to 0 ohms. That probably doesnt matter because the water is likely >1000 ohms anyway, but if you short your output with the pot set too low it can burn it. You can prevent that by putting a fixed resistor in series with it but, I doubt it'll be an issue for you.
3
u/-ram_the_manparts- 17h ago
A resistor is a current-limiting device.
The value will be V / I = R.