Powered Anode Rod - How do you know it's working

Chefwong · Feb 19, 2023

Smelly water aside, what if one doesn't have smelly water.
With a regular rod, you can at least see the rod corrode.
With a powered rod, do you just have to -trust- that it's working and doing it's job.

Reach4 · Feb 19, 2023

some have an indicator light.

If yours had accessible terminals, like https://www.aosmith.com/News/Archives/2018-Archives/AOS-Product-Preservers-Powered-Anode-System/ , you could look at the voltage with respect to the tank.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

Chefwong · Feb 19, 2023

That is exactly the one I plan to buy if I do decide it. I like that it has a -alarm-
But short of putting one one, taking a cutaway at the tank in year 5 or 6 ----to see if it's actually working as intended, this is all foreign to me on whether one should just -trust- it's working...

If I had smelly water and then it stopped, I suppose that is one indicator...which I don't
Hence the OP. With a traditional rod, once can least see diminishing of the rod

Reach4 · Feb 19, 2023

Measured from the water tank metal, I expect to have 0 volts on one terminal, and a negative voltage from maybe -300mv to -1500mv. I will be interested in what you measure.

I have various notes. Powered Anode, Shielded,.118 Diameter X 31.5
SKU: 100111286 AO Smith is the longest I have seen for that. I think a longer anode is good in a highboy water heater.

I find it confusing as to what is just the electrode, what is just the power supply, and what is a combination. Here are my current notes, and I would like to see what you find:
=========================================================

100305721 A.O. Smith Product PreserversT Powered Anode Rod System
about 22 inch tip to electrode in, so about 20 inch elecrode?

Results for "powered anode"

Zoro Tools Industrial Supplies

www.zoro.com

A.O. SMITH 9006247005 Kit Powered Anode
Mfr # 9006247005 13.78 length, so zoro offering not interesting to me.
$232.57

Electronic Anode, Short
Brand:
AO Smith
SKU:
100111024 REPLACEMENT SH

https://www.supplyhouse.com/AO-Smith-100305721-Product-Preservers-Powered-Anode-Rod-System

$163

https://www.hotwater.com/lit/spec/com_accessories/apcpp18003.pdf

about 19 inch probe

Kit #100305721 for 30-70 gallon water heaters (SH $162)
Kit #100324744 for 75-120 gallon water heaters
Differ in impressed current, or probe??

Product Preservers

-----------------------------------------------------------
Powered Anode, Shielded,.118 Diameter X 31.5
SKU: 100111286 AO Smith CURRENT LIKE!

AOS Product Preservers Powered Anode System | A. O. Smith Corp.

A. O. Smith, a leading global manufacturer of reliable water heating and appliance components, has recently introduced the innovative Product Preservers™ Powered Anode System. The new anodes, which are designed to provide maintenance-free protection for all water types, are available as an...

www.aosmith.com

Water Heater Product Literature | A. O. Smith

null

www.hotwater.com

https://www.hotwater.com/lit/spec/com_accessories/apcpp18003.pdf (19+ inch)
https://www.hotwater.com/lit/brochures/apcpp18002.pdf brochure overall
#100324744 is supposedly for bigger

https://www.gsistore.com/products/lochinvar-a-o-smith-100305721 shows power supply and more.

==================================================================

John Gayewski · Feb 19, 2023

You pull out our and check it. If a "skin" has formed on the outside of it is not working. If it's being slowly eaten it's working

Chefwong · Feb 21, 2023

Reach . It's arriving Friday. Might deal with it now or just another day.
Still got more reading to do on these days. Back to the OP. With a traditional rod, I can see it corroding.
Right now, just short of all good reviews I've read on it (too bad I don't have smelly water to see if that works), I just need some more WIKI to know putting it one, it's doing it's *job*.

In relevant topics that pull up on the forum, this one pulled up

https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/smelly-hot-water-w-powered-anode-rod.96286/

Powered anode rod gives this user smelly water . No clue whether or not it is -protecting- the tank however.
Hence, I need to do more - reading

Chefwong · Feb 23, 2023

Rod Arrived. Paging Reach. Did you have the Cerro or AO one.
I just had to google images to compare as the AO threw me for a slight curveball. The pics of the Cerro seen to be solid rod and *touted as titanium*

The AO one I received appears to be a rod that is 3 pieces - spot welded together.
I would obviously prefer the single piece vs the spot welded joined one...

Reach4 · Feb 23, 2023

I have the Ceranode one, which is not being sold any more.

I don't know that I would downgrade the anode for being spot-welded.

I think electrode length is significant. https://terrylove.com/forums/index....heater-no-rotten-egg-smell.77342/#post-571874 discusses my skepticism of stubby Corro-Protec

LLigetfa · Feb 23, 2023

Chefwong said:
The AO one I received appears to be a rod that is 3 pieces - spot welded together.

Is that done to make it flexible for ease of installation?

Chefwong · Feb 23, 2023

No. AFAIk I can see.

Sometimes pics are misleading but a quick YouTube to see real life differences in rod construction.
The Corro one appears to be single uniform and easily 12X in overall width compared to the AO which would be the thickness of a large paper clip

Reach4 · Feb 23, 2023

"easily 12X in overall width compared to the AO which would be the thickness of a large paper clip"
12X does not mean much to you. Does X= 1 inch?

I suspect what you call width, most would call length. Large paper clip? You have a tape measure. This would be a good time to use it.

Chefwong · Feb 23, 2023

Yes, not a regular paper clip but the larger one that is about 3 inches long or so.....the diameter of that.
Terrible example, but Jumbo clip like this is the OD of the AO

https://www.staples.com/Staples-Jumbo-Paper-Clips-Nonskid-1-000-Pack/product_472514

If you google AO rod, pics would up.
When I googled the Corro, this video was a good example

Look at the profile of the rod compared to the AO

Fitter30 · Feb 23, 2023

Whatever brand and model call customer service ask them for the service manual or might be able to find one on a search.

Chefwong · Feb 23, 2023

Snapped a high res pic if you want to geek out on this thing.
Presumably 2 part titanium. The 3rd part is some oxidize material - not sure what the core is

IMG_0906.png

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Fitter30 · Feb 23, 2023

Take a readable pic of the power supply

Chefwong · Feb 23, 2023

Nothing special . Just a wall wart - Output 12V 1AH
The control box has not markings. Just green for good, 1 blinking red for X status, etc

Reach4 · Feb 23, 2023

Chefwong said:
Nothing special . Just a wall wart - Output 12V 1AH
The control box has not markings. Just green for good, 1 blinking red for X status, etc

I had been presuming the wall wart outputs DC rather than AC, so the polarity would matter. The probe may have the rectification and control circuitry built into the top of the electrode unit.

Chefwong · Feb 24, 2023

Yes, DC. The brains is here . No markings on the back

IMG_0907.png

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Fitter30 · Feb 24, 2023

Product Preservers® Powered Anode System - Products Residential by State Water Heaters

Let us introduce you to our new lineup of high efficiency water heaters and water heater systems—better designs and bigger energy savings on hot water than ever. Expect nothing less from State.

www.statewaterheaters.com

Chefwong · Feb 24, 2023

I know who the make/manufs is. It's BNIB. I thought your ? was to see what the Power Supply Output Markings, etc was.

Powered Anode Rod - How do you know it's working

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