Controller wiring problems

[bellybuster]

no problemmo
still trying to find that link for the volt/amp meter but not having any luck.

[magnetic_tarantula]

I like knowing what is going on in a definable sense, but as long as I know where 0% and 100% are I just have to exercise patience and live with "probably 20%", "probably 40%" etc.

It seems there are 2 schools of thought about "scorching the wash", do you recommend slowly cranking it up(20% for 10min, 40% for 10, etc)? I hate to waste a bag of malted wheat. I figure I'll step it up slowly, but I am curious where you stand.

Do you think that those things only matter if your wash is clear/not clear??

[bellybuster]

I think scorching is more a function of the element itself. If you have an ultra low watt density element you couldn't scorch if you tried. A low watt element probly not

I've now run my electric keg twice, both times today and I did use the amp meter side, never really even noticed the voltage side. If I were to do it again I'd just get 1 or the other.

With the pot still I brought it up to temp with full power until i saw drips then dialed back to half power to maintain a broken stream, as the run progressed i need to give more power to maintain the same takeoff. In other words, the visual numbers are not needed at all for the pot still. I judged more by takeoff rate than amperage. It was nice to see though as I upped the power by a single amp at a time

With my reflux still run I pretty much set and forget it. Once it was up to temp at the top of the column I dialed back the power again to half and don't think I touched it again. I did have troubles with condensing though so cant say I wouldn't have

[Theo]

Your electrical buddy (if you have one) should have a clamp on ammeter. You can use that to read the amps and mark the area around the pot know accordingly.

[magnetic_tarantula]

My multimeter says don't go over 20Amps, before the current ammeter/voltmeter popped it was reading 22amps. I was thinking I could just measure the volts at the element before I seal up the wiring and then figure out the amps from that. I'm sure there is some formula for that.

[Theo]

My multimeter says don't go over 20Amps, before the current ammeter/voltmeter popped it was reading 22amps. I was thinking I could just measure the volts at the element before I seal up the wiring and then figure out the amps from that. I'm sure there is some formula for that.

Do you have ohm's law figured out? That can get close, but the resistance of the heater will change depending on its temp. Just another monkey wrench in the works.

[magnetic_tarantula]

Aw fuck. Sometimes its good to accept that the magic happens regardless of whether or not I understand it.

[bellybuster]

which meter went pop, the one on your controller or a hand held?
Dont you be givin up on me

[magnetic_tarantula]

The one on my controller.

[sambedded]

That can get close, but the resistance of the heater will change depending on its temp. Just another monkey wrench in the works.

During a distillation process temperature of heater changed very insignificantly so you can count resistance as a constant.