🔍 Key Concepts

• Purpose of zinc anodes (sacrificial anodes) in condensers and seawater systems • How much deterioration of a sacrificial anode is typically allowed before replacement in marine practice • Why painting or insulating zincs would affect their ability to work

💭 Think About

• What is the job of zinc plates or pencil zincs in a condenser that uses seawater? How do they protect the metal around them? • If zinc is supposed to corrode instead of the equipment, what condition would tell you it has done its job and is no longer effective enough? • Would you ever want to reduce the electrical/metallic contact between the zinc and the metal it protects, and what would painting or heavy filing do to that contact?

✅ Before You Answer

• Confirm the basic principle of sacrificial anodes: which metal is supposed to corrode first. • Think about standard marine maintenance practice: at roughly what percentage of material loss are anodes commonly renewed? • Verify that good metallic contact with seawater and the protected metal is required for the zinc to function as intended.