What the heck is electricity?

[Ted]

Alright so I'm converting over to electric from using a LP burner. I'm horrible when it comes to dealing with wires and stuff like that, basically I'm the complete opposite of a electrician. I have a 25 gallon boiler and was looking into getting a 5500 watt 220V variable single element temperature controller that requires a 240 volt 30 amp circuit. I have a few questions....first, since its 240 volt that means I'm going to have to wire that in to my breaker box, right? Also, it's variable, so I'm guessing that it cycles off and on? And also, will one 5500 watt element heat up and run 25 gallons of wash efficiently? I don't want to wait 2 in a half hours for it to heat up. Should i go with a dual element controller?
Any help will be much appreciated.

[jedneck]

If one element don't give you fast enuf heat up time you can add a second one and control it with a switch. Get up to heat and turn off #2.

[S-Cackalacky]

What Jedneck said ^^^. A disclaimer - I'm electrically disinclined. No advice, just suggestions. There are plenty of electric conversion threads here on the forums. Do some searches and find the ones that you think you may be capable of doing. You can build a controller from scratch, buy one ready to plug and go, or a basic unit that you will need to finish out with wiring and a box.

If you have an electric clothes dryer, you can use that same 220V outlet for your controller connection. If you need to have one installed and have no electrical experience, I would strongly suggest having a licensed electrician do that for you. If possible have it wired with 4 wires - 2 hots, ground, and neutral. This will allow you to break out 110V service if you need it.

Good luck with it and be safe.

[ga flatwoods]

Ted, To answer your question, electricity is what some states use to execute death row prisoners. May take a couple doses to do so but if the first one doesnt kill them, they wouldn't want to live. So, before you go live with a build, I suggest following directions very carefully, asking for a visusl inspection via picture posting, and having someone available whenever you do "go live", at least as a witness.
Be careful is all I am realy saying and good luck with your build.
Ga Flatwoods

[pfshine]

To answer a few Q's you do not want a controller that cycles. A triac controller or one like it reduces voltage to control heat input. With one 5500w element it should take about 1.5 hours to get to temp. There is a calc on the parent site under rads calcs that will give the info you want. I use two elements one on 240 the other on 120. As it gets to temp I just dial the 240 down to the heat input I want with the 120 still on, I like the heat distribution better. Now to the important part what kind of still do you use?

[still_stirrin]

Ted,

All the posters are spot on. Electricity has massive potential power...enough to KILL. So, if you don't know what you're doing, get help from someone who does.

And there's many qualified personnel here to guide you through the process. But don't be haisty.

For starters, 5.5kW will require at least a 25 amp (220/240 volt) circuit. Two elements will require a 50 amp circuit. Setting those breakers should be done by a qualified electrician, respecting the electrical codes.

And wires for that much power must be heavy enough to carry the load with minimal line voltage loss. Again, your licensed electrician can ensure proper wire gage for the run length required for your purpose. And switches and connectors must also be rated for the required current load at rated line voltage as well. Unfortunately there is a significant "first cost" to the infrastructure, but the investment will pay off going forward as you use it. And electrical heat supply and control is much easier to regulate (dial in for your still).

So have a look at some of the builds. Do a lot of reading. And as you learn, ask questions and the experts here will help guide you through the build. You absolutely can do it. Just don't get onto a hurry.
ss

[Ted]

I am planning on hiring a electrician, theirs no way I could do it.
I'm running a 25 gallon 4 inch, 6 plate flute (actually I haven't ran it yet because I havent bought a controller for it). I appreciate everybody's concern so I don't fry myself lol. I plan on having the cable ran from the breaker box in my basement to my garage, so I would have to snake it around and through the wall to get it there. I do have an electric dryer, so maybe I can just plug it into that outlet. But I think I would want it on its own breaker. I guess two 5500 Watt elements are better than one 5500 Watt element for 25 gallons? Thanks everyone for your input.

[DFitz]

I held off on posting on this thread but this might help

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... cts_id=444" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I wished this was available when I started building my controller.

[pfshine]

You will probably want to run it around 2800w + or - 100w for what you got.