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Doing some research. Intend on installing a 4500 or 5500W 220V element in a 19 gallon pot. I know lots (most?) people control with PID and SSR. I'd like to have a turn dial control if possible and from my research I have two options:

1) This thing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10000W-220v-Adj ... 53&afsrc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some folks on the distiller forum seem to have had good luck. I like that it is essentially plug and play (install in box, locate heat sink outside of box, add a shut off switch, done).

2) http://www.amazon.com/Amico-Voltage-Res ... m_sbs_hi_2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is a 'voltage resistance' SSR.. which uses a potentiometer to vary the voltage output. I"d have to wire this up but seems fairly straight forward. I'd likely source it on ebay instead for cheap/free shipping.

It seems like option 1 has had pretty good reviews. I just don't understand the technologly difference between an "SCR" and the '"voltage resistance SSR".

Thanks guys

Tim

I don't think the description of the second item is correct. Get the first one, looks like a good deal, but check the cycle time.

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Wow, if that works it's a hell of a way to build a kettle on a budget!

This has totally piqued my interest. Are you just installing a hot water heater element?

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It certainly is a cheap and easy way to go electric. About time...

And yeah, you'll wire 230vac into this and then an element.

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Apparently this is the chip in it..

http://semiwill.com/data/datasheet/BTA100-BTB100.PDF" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Does it indicate cycle time? (I'm a mechanical engineer.. this electron stuff is just a means to and end, ha)

Tim

Talk to the distiller guys , if they used it they should know.

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Ordered!

Will report back.. (in Aug/Sept by the time I get this thing geared up).

I was reading this on the distillers forums too, and a few over there point out that beer brewers and distillers have different needs for electric control... brewers need to be able to hold the voltage steady, whilst distillers need to have the voltage increase as they boil off the azeotropes, or something like that... I might have that backwards

I don't think that thing is controlling the voltage though is it? It's just cycling the power. I'll take a closer look later.

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I'm pretty sure I saw a video of a guy with a volt/amp meter on the front and as he turned the dial, the volts and amp changed together (which makes sense as the resistance of the element is staying the same).

Can't find the video again though..

Yeah, but a resistance type device like that would be massive, and suck down a ton of juice. Unless it's a variac , which it isn't.

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Looking at that closer, it sure looks like an ssr on a timer. The pot would adjust the duty cycle in percent, but it would still be good to know the cycle time.

The only other thing I could imagine is some kind of clipping circuitry, which would be really neat.

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I picked up one of the first ones today. I already have a 220v STC-1000 here as well... not sure if that could be useful.

mr x wrote:Looking at that closer, it sure looks like an ssr on a timer. The pot would adjust the duty cycle in percent, but it would still be good to know the cycle time.

The only other thing I could imagine is some kind of clipping circuitry, which would be really neat.

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If someone had a scope, a person could check that output waveform!

Too bad mine is gone!

This is one area that I can't seem to wrap my head around, and I've read a lot on different forums... I'd like something that I could use to control a 5500w element for both brewing beer and distilling essential oils.

Anyone know of an idiots guide on this?

I've got my.. controller (whatever the tech is behind it) on the slow boat from China as we speak. If I'm able to pull it off, will make a post about my setup.

I have this installed and recently brewed my first beer with it. Works great!
I does indeed clip the wave form. As the dial is turned down the applied voltage is reduced. The heatsink does generate some heat but nothing excessive. My model is a 6500W version, but works great on my 4500 W element.

ANGELofDEBT wrote:I have this installed and recently brewed my first beer with it. Works great!
I does indeed clip the wave form. As the dial is turned down the applied voltage is reduced. The heatsink does generate some heat but nothing excessive. My model is a 6500W version, but works great on my 4500 W element.

Charles, do you have and pics of your build? We'd love to see!

-Rob

How are you measuring the voltage?

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RubberToe wrote:

ANGELofDEBT wrote:I have this installed and recently brewed my first beer with it. Works great!
I does indeed clip the wave form. As the dial is turned down the applied voltage is reduced. The heatsink does generate some heat but nothing excessive. My model is a 6500W version, but works great on my 4500 W element.

Charles, do you have and pics of your build? We'd love to see!

-Rob

This^

From my understanding this is an SCR which is part of the thyristor family, a triac is similar. Basically from my understanding this "SCR" only cotrols the positive flow of electricity so you would be loosing the negative side of the AC wave and only using the postive side. I'm not an electrical expert by any means but I think that means it is only using half of the duty cylce when at max. Happy to see that it works though.

It's got to be an ssr, which will conduct in both directions.

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mr x wrote:How are you measuring the voltage?

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Measuring at the studs for the element with a multimeter.

This is how wiki explains the unit
Thyristor (and briefly, thyratron) dimmers were introduced to solve some of these problems. Thyristor dimmers switch on at an adjustable time (phase angle) after the start of each alternating current half-cycle, thereby altering the voltage waveform applied to lamps and so changing its RMS effective value. Because they switch instead of absorbing part of the voltage supplied, there is very little wasted power. Dimming can be almost instantaneous and is easily controlled by remote electronics.

I'll get some pictures but my set up is pretty crude and is in progress, with known issues.

Memories of eced 2000 are flooding back......