electrical rust protection

[Wagonman]

Just wondering if anyone here has either heard of, or has fitted an "electronic rust protector" to their pride and joy. Have had a quick search on the web about such devices, but am still a little sceptical about their effectiveness. For those who are unaware of such devices, it is basically a small electric charge that is applied to the body of the car, via sacrificial anodes, which rust or corrode away, rather than your bodywork. This is a simplified way of explaining it. At $250 it could possibly be either money well spent, or money that could have been spent elsewhere. Comments most welcome, Wagonman.

[matches]

i've had these things in 4wd's and they were an absolute waste of time installing and money. we actually found that rust was more agressive with them connected than when we pulled it out.
strange i know but thats just what i found.
fishoil is still the cheapest surefire way of stoping rust that i've found.
Luke

[Craig]

they are up there with the "Energy Polariser" the "Adams Pulse Motor/Generator" and using rare earth magnets to improve fuel consumption $250 buys a lot of fisholine

the anode Idea works but it just isnt practical on a car

[mrs ratbox]

for 250 bucks i'll come dance naked around it that'll scare any rust away and be just as effective

[Craig]

for 250 bucks i'll come dance naked around it that'll scare any rust away and be just as effective

Money well spent if you ask me

[karsten]

i always thought if you add current to metal with water you increase the oxidisation rate ,,,,just like battery terminals that get wet

[DeadSled]

for 250 bucks i'll come dance naked around it that'll scare any rust away and be just as effective

Ahaha that'll scare more than just the rust away

[Wagonman]

lol, yeah that's pretty much what I expected to read. I always read customer feedback on these type of items with a big pinch of salt. Thank's to all for confirming what I thought.

[oldnek]

I use and fit the capacitive coupler Electronic rust units in our shop, and when installed correctly they do work and prevent rust. Or vehicles that have severe rust in them are actually slowed down to a point were they no longer rust.

The principle is based on similar means as to removal of rust, through counter electrolosis, or electronic rust removal.

The cheaper kits they advertise, or the styles they sell in Supercheap, Auto 1 etc, are a Zinc anode type... and arn't worth shit. Your money is definately better spent elsewhere.
Zinc anode need to be submersed for them to work, so unless your car is in the drink its useless.

The only units that I have found to work are capacitive coupler. The way these units work, is providing a electrostatic field over the entire vehicle surface. By the use of a transformer unit which supplies up to 500Volts DC current, negative charge pulsed through coupler pads which stick onto a painted surface.
Protection by this system includes areas like on door fold seam pressings and internal body panel sections, were conventional forms of surface rust proofing cannot get into.

We have had experiences were vehicles with these units fitted have brought corrosion out and owners think that vehicles are rusting worse, In extreme cases, this does happen. But you leave the unit on for 3-5 mths before you do any repairs. In general what they do is provide a ferric oxide coating on the surface metal, which looks similar to surfase rust, but is more powdery and that is the protective layer.

John