Way up Yonder

[reepersteve]

Not to get off the subject, I worked in the Orlando area for the last eleven years before leaving to my next trade adventure. Before I left I started noticing these things called Zinc Bombs, supposed to help fight the corrosion. Anyone know of these and do they acualy work?

[Tech Rob]

They prevent galvanic action between dissimilar metals that are in contact with one another. Galvanic action attacks the weakest metal present, and all a corrosion grenade, or zinc bomb does is introduce a weaker metal into the system. In theory, it's a great idea, but I haven't seen any installed, so I can't tell you how well they work.

[reepersteve]

Thats about all I know about it as well and I've never seen them in the feild as well. Maybee someone has out there and can give somemore insight. Thanks!

[Sam-the-man]

never heard of or seen the zinc bombs, but it has been many years since i worked in a coastal area. I would think the zinc merely acts as an anode, essentially attracting the corrosive forces to itself instead of letting it get to the coils. I know this is effective on steel in underwater applications, but I have no idea how well it works or if it would even work at all in an ac unit.

[jvillehvac]

i have seen one on a unit on the oceanfront. 1 year old Lennox, looked good at the time. If i ever go back hopefully I'll have a camera on me. This house is on stilts right on the ocean, it gets a lot of abuse.