Mini Digital Temperature Controller

[EccentricDyslexic]

I used slave relays for my controlers, so the relays in the controler only switch the relays on and off...so they have much less work to do....i used these-

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/sear ... rm=420-340

i bought 5, only needed 4 (2 for the 2 ketle ellements for the HLT and 2 for the kettle ellements on the boiler) but thought it wise to have one spare.

Steve

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Those relays look ideal.

[sim]

I like the idea for those relays. Make the life of the controller stress free and 16 amps should be good for 3kw - i think?

[EccentricDyslexic]

Yep shud be fine!

Steve

[dcq1974]

Guys! For us idiot non-electrician types out here in Brewland - what does the relay do Does it just act as a switch on the current?

[floydmeddler]

Guys! For us idiot non-electrician types out here in Brewland - what does the relay do Does it just act as a switch on the current?

Yep, I'm confused too.

[tubthumper]

a relay is a switch you send a signal and it switches on what ever it was ment to
heres a Link that should explain them

[EccentricDyslexic]

Look at tubthumpers link; you use the controler to feed mains live to v1 and take neutral to v2 like you will do for the apliance. Then take a mains live straight to c and put a wire from b to your live input on your apliance.

Steve

[OldSpeckledBadger]

I can feel a construction project coming up soon.

[boingy]

Guys, we need a bit of a warning here. If you don't understand electricity and have not done anything more complicated than wire a plug, you really need to think hard before you decide to wire some of this stuff up. It's not actually that difficult but the consequences of getting it wrong could be bad. In the extreme cases you could kill the equipment, set fire to something or even kill yourself or another person in the house. The more likely result is that you trip the house circuit breakers or end up with a nasty melted plastic smell in the kitchen.

It's the one aspect of this forum that worries me sometimes. I suspect if we sent an electrician to inspect all of our kit he would find more than a few that were wired wrongly, or that had missing earths, or that were being used outside of their rated capacity. We know for a fact that quite a few people are using standard PC-style euro leads that are not rated for the current or the temperature of a kettle element.

I don't want to be all "big brother" or "nanny state" about this but I think we have to be careful in the advice we offer.

Sorry, I seem to have come over all sensible there. Many apologies. I think it's because I'm sober. I'll try harder next time.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

I think it's because I'm sober.

What a disgusting state to get yourself into Get some beer down your neck NOW!

[prolix]

you could use one of these 1kw elements with those controllers (4-4.5 amps), may take a bit longer to heat to strike, but over night not a problem and £12.50 for 5 not a bad price either.

that said take note of boingy's comments above, electricity is unforgiving.


edit forgot the link

elements

[tubthumper]

ok you can get the proper leads HERE
they are properly rated for kettles 10Amp and they include a plug top all for £5.49 thats a small price to pay for peace of mind and safty . If you think the 10 amps is not sufficient for a tesco/asda/argos kettle element then think again it is ample . I use 3 of them and they dont get hot so its the best choice.
as per boingys post I agree totaly with what he states .your and your familys life is much more important than getting a brew on in a hurry

[chris_reboot]

thinking of getting one of these for my kegerator project for which they look ideal.
I'll only be needing to cool, not heat, so presumably I just wire a mains feed in, and then strip the plug off the fridge (well freezer actually), and connect that to the appropriate terminals on the controller?
or am I missing something else?

TIA.

[themadhippy]

and then strip the plug off the fridge (well freezer actually), and connect that to the appropriate terminals on the controller?

Or wire the cooling outputs to a socket and plug your fridge into it.