MY SUPER SIMPLE CONTROLLER

[cranky]

Mine is just a simple 2 pole 30 amp switch from Home Depot.

So you just kill the power to one hot leg? I guess that breaks the circuit but if you touch it there's still 120v hitting you right?

Dual pole, single throw, it kills both sides so no hot wires after the switch. I also kill the breaker when not in use for an extended period of time because my extension cord has a little red LED that annoys me.

As for the different colors of meters, it will add a festive feel to it! Like how they use Christmas lights for everything in the Carribean.

I like it festive should be gaudy, maybe add some Christmas lights around it too

Little red led is annoying but more (like Christmas lights ) and the felling of electricity is festive.

It annoys me because I know that that little red LED is using electricity when the cord is otherwise not in use. Christmas lights while running are happy and if they are LED they don't use much juice. I want to add a couple plasma balls to my setup to make it look more science fictiony/ mad scientist but they don't use much juice either

[likker liker]

I know exactly what you mean.

Using some electricity right now and WOW! This so great I can't believe I ever used LP. Quite, far less heat, indoors without large amounts of ventilation and saving money.

[Hound Dog]

Cool, don't see a dual pole single switch down here at Depot. I will have to look around.

Edit: never mind. I found it. Gonna pick two up tomorrow. (double elements ).

[cranky]

Cool, don't see a dual pole single switch down here at Depot. I will have to look around.

Edit: never mind. I found it. Gonna pick two up tomorrow. (double elements ).

I'm sure I bought one at Home Depot, they tend to hide them, and another at Lowe's because I misplaced the first one somewhere Lowe's has them on their website http://www.lowes.com/pd_541778-1571-PS3 ... Ntt=switch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow which matches likker liker's box but it is on line only for me. but this was the one they have in stock. http://www.lowes.com/pd_591488-427-3032 ... Ntt=switch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[likker liker]

I had hoped for more control but this is far more than I'd thought it get. this is fantastic, on LP I could run between 180 and 190 but to be at 195 now on crankys supper simple controller wow couldn't be happier

[cranky]

I had hoped for more control but this is far more than I'd thought it get. this is fantastic, on LP I could run between 180 and 190 but to be at 195 now on crankys supper simple controller wow couldn't be happier

Glad it worked out. I really do feel electric rocks!
I love the control mine gives. On my boka I can top 96.5% and easily hold 96.5 when it's dialed in. I was easily holding 95 on the first incarnation of the muggles too as well, I hope the new neutralizer does the same. I've been having kind of a bad week ( OK more than just kind of bad) and working on the new rigs and much needed work on the house and havent had much time for actual running. I haven't been keeping up with things on HD very well either. I don't recall seeing your setup likker liker. Is there somewhere you posted it? Is that a ferrel welded to the back of the box to hold it to the keg? I just have some screws holding mine to a janitors cart that my keg fits on. That looks much more solid.

[likker liker]

Sorry to hear your having a rough week hopefully it will turn around and everything falls into place soon
Here's a picture of the back side of the box to keg. I want to be able to remove the controller from the keg and I want the controller close to the keg. Then the light bulb went off. I had some old used parts I'd been saving. Perfect time to use them.

[PTS_35]

just wanted to share this build as a newbee. copper on stainless with a liebig condenser, using kitchen sink as cold water supply. so far everything seems to be working, no leaks on a water only, then the 50/50 water/vinegar, then a water rinsing run. pretty exciting seeing the build working. sorry pic isn't so great. its a 5gal pot, with 1/2 inch pipe, using a 3/4 jacket. soldered a 3/4 leg for support. used a Teflon gasket under the lid that was cut to shape. I tapped it to hold to the SS screws so the bowl, pot lid and gasket are all one piece. I top the screws off with brass acorn nuts. gives it a good look. probably cant see them in pic. Drilled and tapped sides of pot and attached latches that hold the lid down. Use Teflon tape on pot rim the secure the lid. It works, doesn't leak. All pieces of copper are silver soldered except for the connection to the stub. I use Teflon tape and that also seems to be working as a seal. IDK what it'll do with the alcohol run yet but I used 2gal of water, hot plate on high and got 1 quart of redistilled water in an hour.

[still_stirrin]

just wanted to share this build as a newbee. copper on stainless with a liebig condenser, using kitchen sink as cold water supply. so far everything seems to be working, no leaks on a water only, then the 50/50 water/vinegar, then a water rinsing run...

Don't forget the sacrificial alcohol run too. It's very important.

...IDK what it'll do with the alcohol run yet but I used 2gal of water, hot plate on high and got 1 quart of redistilled water in an hour.

You'll dump it down the drain if you don't first do an alcohol sac run. It's a mandatory part of the cleaning protocol.
ss

[cranky]

I've been sort of helping PTS_35 in PMs through this whole beginning process and I'm pretty sure he has a handle on things if it seems out of place it is because I asked him to post a pic on this thread so I could take a look at it. I think he has done a fine job and feel it deserves it's own thread.

[frodo]

Asking this question because a damn plumber dont know squat about any colored wires



this damn thing has a red wire and a black wire??

Which wire is hot? which is common ?

my guess is black is hot, 50/50 chance i'm right

model DL85-2042



Docooler Digital LED Voltage Meter Ammeter Voltmeter with Current Transformer AC80-300V 0-100.0A Dual Display

[Edwin Croissant]

this damn thing has a red wire and a black wire??

Which wire is hot? which is common ?

Normally red is hot and black is neutral (In old Dutch electrical domestic systems red was neutral, green was hot and gray was ground, so your mileage may vary )
In this case it doesn't matter, its AC and you have a single split-phase, 240 V, with a neutral and two hot legs, 240 V to each other, and 120 V each to the neutral, so your meter is connected to both hot legs.

Please note that this meter is not suitable to measure the voltage across your element. If you do that it will smoke after some time So you must connect this meter directly to the mains.

There are meters that can show the actual power going to your element like the DL69-2048 and the Peacefair PZEM-061. Someone on another forum had the experience with two of these Peacefair's that this meter will start to give erratic values after a couple of hours. Next run same problem. Maybe it is a temperature problem. So don't run your box to hot, but I see you have a fan

[Hound Dog]

Yep, same one I have. Tie it in upstream of the controller then run one leg of your wires going to the element through the "doughnut " and it will give you amperage. Tie into the output side of the controller and it will fry. Notice two wires go to the controller, neither is a neutral.

[frodo]

i read the other thread about which side of the ssr to connect the meter.

glad i did, i bent the resistor back away from where the power comes in, it was touching.

if i understood your answer correctly , i do not hook to a common, but to both hot legs

before the ssr

[Edwin Croissant]

Yes, that is correct

[frodo]

Thanks Edwin, Thanks Hound Dog

[cranky]

My meter is slightly different and I had been running it hooked up to the output side of the controller with no issues or signs of overheating but because of the problems other people had I switched it to the input side. I also bought a spare meter and controller to have on hand just in case. I've run this thing pretty hard for quite long times with no sign of issues.

[likker liker]

[quote="cranky"]My meter is slightly different and I had been running it hooked up to the output side of the controller with no issues or signs of overheating but because of the problems other people had I switched it to the input side. I also bought a spare meter and controller to have on hand just in case. I've run this thing pretty hard for quite long times with no sign of

I changed my over also and I really don't care about the volt, i only care about the amps. I never had any problems thanks to cranky

[frodo]

I like the look of 2 of them.

LIKER LIKKER control box porn !!

mine is not done yet, but i will show it anyway,

pot, is ordered,
220 switch is ordered

[likker liker]

Cool , your almost done

[frodo]

it has been a LOOOONG road, but I can just about see the driveway!!!

[likker liker]

It is a very long road. I've been thinking about my next tower, I've been looking at some parts that I've had for awhile now and it's time, after hunting season of course. Here's some the stuff

[frodo]

i spent last saturday, clearing some new trails on our land

I cut an easy 700 yards. along the property line
then cut thru to to the back side of the pond
i saw deer trails that looked like highways !!!

any day in the woods is a good day

[cranky]

I've always liked the red box and think you are doing a fine job Frodo. I might have to paint my box red too. I think Likker Liker made a much nicer one than mine and am thinking about adding in the 2nd controller and meter just to have a place to keep them, that's known as a "hot spare" in my circles. I suppose I could make it so I can run both pots at the same time probably not though because I can barely handle one at the same time I saw where Frodo was thinking about adding an extra element. Personally I run 5500W single element and find it often heats up faster than I'm ready for so unless the boiler is bigger than 15.5 gallons I wouldn't waste the fitting.

[Hound Dog]

Despite the wicked dual gas burner setup you had going, you are going to like electric Frodo. I know I do. Its a quick reaction time for changes. Real nice.

Speaking of real nice, real nice setup you have out there with the trails to the pond and all!

[frodo]

that gas burner, got moved to my forge.

[cranky]

I wish I had room for a forge.

Someday.

[frodo]

I wish I had room for a forge.

Someday.

scrounge up these items
2- metal 55 gallon drums
1- car brake drum
1- 2'' blk iron threaded tee
1- 2''x 12'' nipple
2- 2''x 4'' nipples
1- 2'' 4-bolt floor flange
1-2'' cap
4 1/2'' grinder with cut off wheel

1- hair dryer
1 - 2' pvc pipe
1- 2'' nohub band
duct tape

that is a forge

[cranky]

I remember the forge from the goofy things thread, I would make one if I had the land, but that's the problem, no space here. when I win the lottery I will buy a nice big place like yours in the country and build my own forge but in the mean time I'm out of room for stuff like that.

Frodo, you ever try casing copper?

[frodo]

never have, have thought about it.

i wonder if a crucible could be made from a fire extinguisher ?

you have a garage? you do know, that garages are NOT for parking cars.

thy are man caves, that are called garages to fool the wife as to what it really is

Cranky, we have plenty land down here. $2000.00--$3000.00 an acre

park an rv on it, build your own house as you go.

after a year or so, you start wearing bib overalls, growing ta-maters and okra

cooking big pots of gumbo. and spending a lot of time cat fish'n

after 3 years, your neighbors will come by, ask when ya'll moved in here?

who's your people? "we have a Church over yonder, Stop by"

here in the "country" a man is not judged by his car, or his truck.

its the tractor, If you have a piddly lil old tractor, you are snickered at.

Myself, being poor, All I have is a beat up riding lawn mower. that gets USED like a tractor.

I cleared my land with an axe, chain saw , my mower was used to pull the down trees out to the burn pile.



I wondered off subject.
My point, buy some land, you can build on it later.

or..http://cdn3.volusion.com/zcpzl.nutxy/v/ ... 1348418718" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

$700.00 t hen you can add sides for around $300.00
insulate, and plywood the walls, better than a rv.

I traded work for a fella to do my dirt[dozer] work

so that cost nothin

how do you save the money? I saved every penny of overtime and side work
for close to 20 years, bought and sold "things'' at a profit



.