How to Calculate Ampacity for a Brass Plate

Is the current flowing from side to side across the plate (area = 8" x thickness), or is it flowing from one face through to the other (area = 64 in²)? There are material properties tables on line that give conductivity/resistivity data. If the current is applied to the plate via several bolts, say, and taken off by several others, then things get more complicated.

Thanks for your help. Appreciated.

If I'm not mistaken there are probably more than one possible alloy of brass with correspondingly different resistance values. If you're looking for the best conductivity in a certain size, you might try a thin layer of electroplated gold. Some of the reasons for this are, elimination of corrosion, due to brass's tendency to tarnish, also electrical current tends to flow more towards the surface than evenly throughout the conductor (varies with the frequency). Also if it will be in any kind of corrosive environment the gold coating will greatly reduce or eliminate the corrosion that would be there with bare brass.

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE.

I'm assuming you are trying to build a hydrogen generator.

Gold plated is not a bad idea, but Stainless steel would be Much better and cheaper.

You can salvage some from a scrap yard for a couple dollars a pound.

As for ampacity, you need to test and see, there is too many factors that comes in line to give an accurate answer.

If you are interested in HHO you need to check out this guy "Stan Myers" http://waterpoweredcar.com/stanmeyer.html

And this discussion group. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterFuel1978/

Good luck with your project.