Power Controller

[packapoo]

I don't want to contaminate the other treads on this.
Does anyone here have experience with/of burst fire controllers please?
I ask because over many forums discussing this topic, I have never seen one mentioned.
When I bought my set up, more years ago then I'd like to own up to, there are reasons I took the easy way out and used the same boiler set up the designer of my still used, therefore recommended. Burst fire controller was a must have adjunct to using the boiler, bought it from RS, don't recall the country, but it was reasonably priced and after a bit of head scratching, wiring was a cinch.
Reason I'm asking now is I'd like to get a better handle on settings when I dial it back,'cause I'm flying blind presently.

[YHB]

Burst fire, Angle phase or any other systems, the problem is still the same, if you want to half the power then where do you turn the dial to? The answer is not half way.

You can calibrate your dial as Mr 4 Sq describes and I have done or use a plug in power meter of the type that Easy Drinker suggests, both of these methods will answer the question.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2925

[vino-tinto]

I took out the error by using an volt/amp LCD or LED display, ($10 from HK). As an element has a fixed resistance, just read the volts, read the amps, multiply them together there's your wattage, basic Ohms Law.



I made up a chart in increments of 25 watts, no guessing anymore

OR HAVE I GOT IT WRONG

[packapoo]

Damn. Thank you for your replies gents.
The twiddle of the dial as a means of gauging output result is what I'd expected.
Will have to think about this a little.
Having seen other set ups, have to say if I were starting out I'd do things a bit differently.
That's life, cheers.

Peter

[Mr Four Square]

For what it's worth VT my set up using a digital volt/amp meter like yours went happily for a few runs then ended in a puff of smoke and a fritzed meter. (the controller kept going) . I bought a couple of analogue meters but then decided to follow YHB and marked up the dial. One less thing to go wrong and no values to calculate.

If you mean you divided the total wattage into 25 watt increments and put them evenly round the dial then I'd say yes you have got it wrong. Different controllers may produce different results. On mine it takes the smallest nudge to drop the first 100 watts from full and a quarter turn to drop the last 100 to Zero.

If ED's set up works with your controller, that gets my vote for the easiest way of reading watts. Plus you get a piece of kit you can use around the house while shouting " does no one else care about the power use round here !!"

[vino-tinto]

If you mean you divided the total wattage into 25 watt increments and put them evenly round the dial then I'd say yes you have got it wrong.

I made up a A4 laminated chart in 25 watt increments to cross ref the readings on the display.
Anyway I have since completed my MK2 version using solid state relays and LED display which will handle a lot more than I will ever throw at it.

[Mr Four Square]

Ah I see. You've got a system and it works VT. The SSRs are a better quality unit than the eBay cheapies for sure.