Lucky Find or not worth the time? (possible_controller)

[SoTaShine]

Hello everyone,

So I found this watlow controller, it was being disposed of at my place of employment so I grab it. Ive hooked it up to my small pot I have with a water heater element and it worked. Fan spins never over heated had it running a good 2 hours no issues. My goal is to use this on my keg I have. Can anyone tell me if this would work or should I just move on and build one. this is the unit I believe http://www.watlow.com/products/controll ... m?famid=17" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow and the pdf for it here http://www.watlow.com/downloads/en/manu ... ev%20M.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow In the pdf it mentions burst firing on the 3rd page so it got my hopes up. Any input from such an awesome place would be greatly appreciated Thanks everyone so glad this community exists

[Maritimer]

That looks like a mighty fine DEluxe controller.

M

[sambedded]

Looks like very useful stuff. Can you find exact part number it should be like DC11-24L0-0000

[SoTaShine]

The model # is DC1P-6512-F001 its was used for heating plastic in certain areas for bending it was hooked up to a fire bar that laid in some fire brick. This process came obsolete so there was no need for it anymore, but I couldn't bare seeing it get thrown away (my place of employment wastes money like this all the time ) But I remembered that in this process temperature was critical so figured it might be right up my alley. When I got water up to boil you could back down the dial to a low simmer or crank it to a rolling boil within a matter of seconds. My hope is to use a 220v heater element in my 15.5 gal keg with this unit and from the research I've done I think it can handle this, but not positive needless to say this is why I have not hooked it up to 220, hate to cook something that could be a blessing in disguise. Any info you great people have is greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone

[Old MacDonald]

Some specific info attached ...via Google (& Paint Shop Pro )

You'll need to confirm the input control signal type/current I think.

[oliver90owner]

Can't read that. Says 120VAC, 65A, 4-20mA in the spec list. 4-20mA is taken care of in the box, so looks like about as much as you can pull on a domestic single phase supply?

[Cardinalbags]

65 amps max load on a single phase 120V is a heavy draw...... not sure you would ever find any house hold breakers to run that.

The max wattage you would ever need would be 4500-5500 watts anyhow = 37.5 to 45.8 amps, but again you wont find any 120v breakers for that. This sounds like it is better suited to industrial applications.

It would also require some really heavy gauge wire. Ask your company if they need to throw out a 220V model.

[oliver90owner]

The max wattage you would ever need would be 4500-5500 watts anyhow = 37.5 to 45.8 amps, but again you wont find any 120v breakers for that. This sounds like it is better suited to industrial applications.

Sorry, but not enough imagination. Seems as though this controller could easily provide a constant power delivery of up to that 4500-5500 watts with no problem whatsoever.

Just need two separate heating elements.

RAB

[Dnderhead]

Just need two separate heating element""
yes but where you going to fiend a 50 amp, 120v circuit ??? and I believe that would take #6 wire?

[Cardinalbags]

Sorry, but not enough imagination. Seems as though this controller could easily provide a constant power delivery of up to that 4500-5500 watts with no problem whatsoever.

Just need two separate heating elements.
RAB

The issue is not the size of the elements, but the breakers to achieve the total wattage at 120 volts. You would need to use multiple breakers feeding a single device as regular household breakers usually stop at 20 in single pole configuration. Using multiple breakers feeding the same controller would be an electrical no-no.

You can use this controller in single phase service, just keep the element wattage to around 2000w on a 20 amp single pole breaker. That will keep you within electrical code acceptable values.

[Prairiepiss]

It doesn't really mater. You aren't going to find a 120v element much above 2000w anyway. I think I saw a 2200w 120v element once? But if you buy a 5500w 240v element and hook it to 120v it will only run at 1375w. So the only way you could ever pull more is with multiple elements in parallel. Is this feasible? No it isn't.

If you want to use this 120v controller. You should go readmy thread on my harbor freight controller setup. You can find a copy in the new distiller reading lounge. But it will go one the safe way to use that controller with multiple elements.

[SoTaShine]

I really don't want to run multiple elements if i don't have to i have access to a 220 50amp circuit and a 220 30amp can someone guide me in the right direction for a 220 controller or any other advice? thanks everyone for all the replies really helps having this great place.