OK, perhaps the last of the tale of the IntellipH? Well, the latest chapter, anyway.
Part A
Acid supply was low. I filled an empty acid jug with twice-filtered soft water. And put it near the IntellipH. I donned my gear (gloves, eye protection and mask), and opened a fresh jug of 31% MA and put it near the IntellipH. I opened the IntellipH lid, grabbed both jugs, one in each hand, and poured them each into the hopper together, just as I would mixing tea and lemonade for my Arnold Palmer: matching both streams evenly, and aligning them to mix together before they hit the hopper. No explosions.
I wanted to see if I could mix the two quickly and easily in this fashion, without first pouring into a bucket, stirring, then trying to pour the bucket into the hopper. Seemed to work fine. Yes, I crossed the streams, but Egon was wrong: every molecule in my body did not explode at the speed of light.
If I'm understanding correctly, the acid into water rule is to avoid the heat generated, and the resulting reaction, by pouring water into acid. This mix'n'pour didn't seem to cause any of that, and everything went well with a minimum of drips and back splashes (from which I was well protected).
I may try mixing in the bucket next time, or not. This MO worked well this time.
Part B
The IntellipH has two primary defenses against leaking fumes to surrounding areas and metal. The o-ring that seals the lid to the hopper, and the vent. My o-ring had a slice in it, so I fixed that last week. That left the vent, which I addressed today. I connected a tube to it and tightened it up tight. Then ran the tube down, over, and up, about 6' over my pad, a few feet away from it. The tube ends, strapped to a vinyl fence post, and is well positioned to catch the breeze that usually runs through there. The end is about 4' to the nearest metal. We'll see how that works in the coming months/years.
The hopper vent is to the right of the motor, I ran the newly connected vent tube down and wire-tied it under the conduit for a little protection from the sun. That line, and the others that run out of the IntellipH are covered in polyethylene split loom tubing wire covers to give them a little relief from UV rays. Yes, that's my heater right next to the IntellipH. If it's not air tight now, that'll be the first to take the hit. And this pic will serve to document how much corrosion was already on the gas pipe.
The the tube runs up the wall, behind the vinyl post (again, for a little UV protection) and pokes up enough to catch the wind. I suppose I've planted it just right to waft around at the height of my head, but it's a minute amount, it's diluted 1:1, and it's going to be blown around with lots of other air molecules. I think I'm good.
