SD Controller Wire check

Ferthy · Post by **Ferthy** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 11:52 am

Hello,
I just wired up my SD Power Controller. I checked and rechecked it, but thought I would post a pic before I fire it all up. Just incase of a stupid mistake or some darn thing i overlooked. I have the male power plug end on the left, the right side has a female plug end for my 1500W element to plug into. Thoughts? concerns?

Ferthy · Post by **Ferthy** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 1:00 pm

Just realized the pic is not the best and the wiring can't be seen in detail. What I got is this the neutral (white) goes all the way through the controller and wired to the corresponding clear screws in both the male and female plugs. The black wire comes in from the male end and is wired to terminal 2. Then terminal on sends the black wire out to the female plug. In the Pot I got the left most lug wired to terminal 4 the center lug to terminal 3 and the ground to a ground on th SSVR. Both grounds from the power cord are grounded to the ssvr as well.

Post by **Desvio** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 1:11 pm

Wiring looks a little tight, I'd give them more length and get them off/away from from the heat-sink.

If it got hot enough to melt the insulation you could end up with a short.

Post by **Yummyrum** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 1:27 pm

+1 desvio .
It is also good practice to make the green earth lead longer than the others so that if the power cord did get ripped out , the earth lead is the last to rip off ensuring the devise is safe to the end .

Another good practice is to have all the green earth wires connect to a common point rather than different points as you have done .

Nit picking but you did ask

Ferthy · Post by **Ferthy** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 2:00 pm

Okay. I tried getting the grounds all on one but the wouldn't fit. I'm also going to try and securing the heat sink to the box. The directions didn't call for that. However, if I get the wires configured so they don't touch the sink and little movement brings one or more into contact with the sink again.

Post by **Danespirit** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 2:11 pm

Like the others wrote...connect the earth cable to a common connection and give it a little more length.
Well, it looks like you've mounted everything on top of that heat sink...on the fins...?
I'd mount it so it touches the heat sink on the flat side, and add some thermal paste for a good heat conduction.
Then the heat sink has to be mounted, so the air still has a chance to circulate freely, of course.
You would also have the option of letting it protrude out of the cabinet like I did on this one: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 85&t=58011
Just my two cents..and a few thoughts..

Ferthy · Post by **Ferthy** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 2:33 pm

Well I got the wires configured a bit better so they are not touching the sink and gave them a bit more length. I bolted the sink to the box, as well as taped a couple wires together to help keep them away from the sink. I will try a little bit more to get the grounds all on one point.

Also Danespirit I get what you are saying about keeping the sink exposed to the open air. I was just following the instructions from the StillDragon site that I included as an attachment. I don't think the particular sink that came with the kit would work with what you posted. There is only one small flat spot for the SSVR. And the bottom side is completely covered in fins. I do have a dozen 1/2 inch holes drilled around the entire perimeter of the box if that means anything?

Ferthy · Post by **Ferthy** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 2:34 pm

Also the kit did come with some thermal paste which i did use.

StillerBoy · Post by **StillerBoy** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 3:31 pm

Have you tried the controller yet..

On the latest picture, the reason for asking is the green wire which I thick is the ground (on the left side of the picture), it seems to be connected to the the SSR on the # 4 position, it should not be connect there, but with the other ground connection.. and the pot needs to be grounded also.. all grounds should all be connect together..

Mars

Ferthy · Post by **Ferthy** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 4:34 pm

StillerBoy wrote:Have you tried the controller yet..

On the latest picture, the reason for asking is the green wire which I thick is the ground (on the left side of the picture), it seems to be connected to the the SSR on the # 4 position, it should not be connect there, but with the other ground connection.. and the pot needs to be grounded also.. all grounds should all be connect together..

Mars

It's a bad picture. The Ground is connected to the ground on the ssvr not the pot. I will go to the hardware store tomorrow and find a screw or something that will be long enough for all three grounds to be together.

Post by **greggn** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 5:57 pm

> It's a bad picture.

Yes, it is. Next time don't be afraid to shine a light down into the enclosure ... it won't hurt anything. On the plus side, I like your use of ring lugs.

Post by **Danespirit** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 5:02 am

Ferthy wrote:Well I got the wires configured a bit better so they are not touching the sink and gave them a bit more length. I bolted the sink to the box, as well as taped a couple wires together to help keep them away from the sink. I will try a little bit more to get the grounds all on one point.

Also Danespirit I get what you are saying about keeping the sink exposed to the open air. I was just following the instructions from the StillDragon site that I included as an attachment. I don't think the particular sink that came with the kit would work with what you posted. There is only one small flat spot for the SSVR. And the bottom side is completely covered in fins. I do have a dozen 1/2 inch holes drilled around the entire perimeter of the box if that means anything?

Ahh..yes. As I saw the pdf with the instructions, I know what you mean.There are fins on both sides.
Obviously, that excludes the idea of thermal paste. The heatsink will also stand on the fins of one side, so it's lifted a little (which gives a good air circulation).
The 1/2" holes, you drilled, will be fine too and ensure there is some kind of ventilation to the electrics.

That controller should be able to handle the 1,5 KW with ease.

Post by **LWTCS** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 9:08 am

Did you get your connectors straightened out so that you can put the protective clear plastic cover back over the SSR?

This box is not set up to expose the fins. Vent holes drilled in the box are completely adequate.

Ferthy · Post by **Ferthy** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:08 am

LWTCS wrote:Did you get your connectors straightened out so that you can put the protective clear plastic cover back over the SSR?

This box is not set up to expose the fins. Vent holes drilled in the box are completely adequate.

No not yet. I put everything on hold until this evening or tomorrow as I have to get a screw to fit all three grounds on one terminal.

Post by **shadylane** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 1:06 pm

Heat-sink paste

Post by **LWTCS** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 4:28 pm

Paste comes with the kit.
If it was not included,,,happy to get one out to you asap.

cob · Post by **cob** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 5:45 pm

Ferthy wrote:Also the kit did come with some thermal paste which i did use.

pretty clear.

Post by **shadylane** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 6:12 pm

cob wrote:
Ferthy wrote:Also the kit did come with some thermal paste which i did use.
pretty clear.

If your Sober and Sane

Ferthy · Post by **Ferthy** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 5:52 am

Yes the thermal paste did come with the kit. I did get a screw that was a little long to accommodate all 3 grounds as well. When I get some coffee into me I will slap it back together and get the plastic shield back on there.

Post by **LWTCS** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:56 am

Coffee!

Ferthy · Post by **Ferthy** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 12:29 pm

Well I might have jumped the gun a bit. I got everything wired together. All the grounds on one terminal. No wires anywhere near the sink or ssvr except where they connect to the ssvr. Plastic shield is on. I checked and rechecked everything. And tried boiling a few gallons of water. Seems to be working fine. The box is not warm. The only wierd thing was the outlet made a faint hum the first time I turned it up to about 90%. So I turned it down and after a few minutes turned it back up again. And there was no noise. Except from the keg and that was from the water starting to heat up.

I think if all goes according to plan I will make a simple stand for my Liebig. And start the whole cleaning process.

BDF · Post by **BDF** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 1:45 pm

Ferthy wrote:Well I might have jumped the gun a bit. I got everything wired together. All the grounds on one terminal. No wires anywhere near the sink or ssvr except where they connect to the ssvr. Plastic shield is on. I checked and rechecked everything. And tried boiling a few gallons of water. Seems to be working fine. The box is not warm. The only wierd thing was the outlet made a faint hum the first time I turned it up to about 90%. So I turned it down and after a few minutes turned it back up again. And there was no noise. Except from the keg and that was from the water starting to heat up.

I think if all goes according to plan I will make a simple stand for my Liebig. And start the whole cleaning process.

Good on ya, also just finished the setup of the controller kit from stilldragon. Responses in this thread were instructive.

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