Going electric with Auberins

[SouthTexasShine]

So I've been looking at going electric for a while and was thinking about a setup that would also handle beer. I don't want to go with eBay relays that can stick open if I step inside for a minute while boiling a wort. This is my parts list.

DSPR1 Digital power regulator for Wort Boiling Control

This digital solid state power regulator (DSPR1) is for manually adjusting the power output on a solid state relay (SSR). It can be used for controlling wort boiling during beer brewing. User can adjust the SSR output power from 0% to 100% by turning the digital rotary encoder with 1% resolution. Changing the numeric value is much easier using the rotary encoder than using the key pad as in our PID controllers. In contrast to our SSVR, this unit is able to regulate the power almost linearly, with high precision, good reproducibility, and low electromagnetic interference (EMI).

This regulator offers two firing modes: burst firing (default mode) and time proportional firing. The burst firing mode is preferred for resistive loads, which can provide a uniform power output to the heater and can extend the life time of the heater. The firing signal is a series of short pulses distributed over one hundred AC line cycles. The duration of each pulse equals to one AC line cycle (16.67 milliseconds for 60Hz or 20 milliseconds for 50 Hz, automatically detected by the regulator). This mode is not suitable for the situation where an SSR is used to control electromechanical relays, mercury displacement relays, or heaters with unusual resistance characteristics. The time proportional firing mode can be used for SSR that is controlling a device that does not like high frequency of switching, such as electromechanical relays, mercury displacement relays. Under this mode, user can select the cycle time from 1 to 99 seconds. If the cycle time is set to 10 seconds, a 10% output means 1 second on and 9 second off. This is the same as the manual mode of Auber’s PID controller.

MGR-1D4840 40A SSR

HS40ETL External Mount Heat Sink

I will use a BUD NEMA Box for the enclosure, and use waterproof cable glands joints too keep the case tight. I'll be using 10/3 power cord to power a Dernord 240V 5500W Stainless Steel Low Density Ripple fold back heating element.

So does this plan make sense? Should it do what I am hoping to accomplish, I will not be trying to regulate mashing temps, just strength of the boil wether it is used on the keegle or boiler.

[FreeMountainHermit]

Contact ga flatwoods about his controller build here. Very slick and simple with American components.

[Skipper1953]

... I don't want to go with eBay relays that can stick open if I step inside for a minute while boiling a wort.

You don't need to be so concerned about them sticking open as sticking closed. If they stick open, the power is not on and your wort cools off. When they fail, they usually fail closed. Then you get an uncontrolled boil that may or may not result in a big mess. But, closed is what you meant, right.

eBay is not the only source for relays that fail. That being said, I've been a big fan of Auber Instrument for a looong time.

[FreeMountainHermit]

Contact ga flatwoods about his controller build here. Very slick and simple with American components.

Dang !!! I forgot to include his build. VERY clean and simple.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 85&t=58656