StillSmart

We have built a new power controller for the electrical element on the new still once the element arrives. The old power controller could only handle 1500 watts. The new one is based around a voltage resistance SSR which we purchased from amazon including the heat sink it cost £9.12 + £4.00 for a 500k 1/4w linear potentiometer + £1.49 for the knob. During testing on the existing element we can dial it from 150w to 1500w so 10% to full power the SSR is capable of handling 40 amps so far more that we will ever throw at it.

Amazon link for relay

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Voltage-Resista ... r+heatsink

SSR-VA relay + Heat sink



Wired up with the extension lead - Basically the pot is wired to pins 3 and 4 to give the adjustable resistance reference and then the live wire just goes into pin 1 and out to the extension socket via pin 2 with the earth and negative running straight through to the extension socket.



Fully assembled with the knob on the potentiometer - Since taking the photo we have applied some Danish oil to the timber so it looks more refined



Thanks for looking

Opus + Son

Any chance you could post links for each if the components....please

AM

The link to amazon above is the heatsink and voltage relay the only other component was a 500k 1/4 watt or larger wattage linear potentiometer and we just cut an extension lead in half for the cables. I think the pot was from amazon as well.

cheers
Opus and Son

Very nice enclosure, have you considered adding a meter to display the output? i got a dual volt/amp meter off ebay for a few quid which gives me a good idea of the power being let through..



i find the t500 boiler uses 8.5amps on full power but tickles along nicely with 2.3amps when upto temperature..

Yes we did look at fitting a display but as we were already plugged into an independent meter displaying watts and amps we decided to stick with that.

We may change the knob on the pot for one with a pointer and put a seperate scale on the enclosure showing percentage, it's just cosmetic though really.

Opus

I love that perforated metal you have used with the wooden enclosure. Reminds me of the ancient lab equipment we had at school. Where did you get that?

Good to have confirmation that this particular form of phase angle controller turns down to 10% rather than zero. There was some speculation in another thread.

Really nice looking job.

The metal grill was a bit of the stuff they sell in B&Q I think probably meant for radiator/heater covers. We just had an off cut we sprayed with satin black.

Opus

Ha, BnQ. Would never have guessed that one. Black or a kind of green were the two main old equipment colours of choice as I vaguely remember my schooldays. I think there was a blue grey colour on some newer bits. I'll keep an eye out in BnQ. Ta.