Home Distiller

got all my parts in for m hotplate/controller mod, if i was gonna have to mod it i was gonna go full throttle lol. it might be way excessive and not needed but, it was fun (isn't that what this hobby is all about).
rip apart the speed controller (got plenty pics how the wiring went)
put the ammeter and fuse in box
next was the current transformer for the ammeter
broke dremel back out and hacked the unnecessary material off
mounted remains to the box
next was heat sink placement

mounted fan
mounted plug
now to finish it up tomorrow gotta wire it up, so far im happy with the turn out.

what gauge wire should i use to wire this up? i am running a 1500w hotplate, the lead for the wall on the controller box i want 10ft and i am gonna wire the hotplate solid inside the controller box and was hoping fot a 10ft lead there also (total of 20ft combined). i asked for 14g and the guy gave me 16g and i didn't notice it till i got home and started hacking it up (shame on me i know). i have started to use the 16g but can easily change if i need to, here are some pics of the wiring i have done so far

wired and attached the triac resistor to the heatsink had to extend the wires from the board to the resistor

really no one can answer this?

They use 12G for 20A circuits. if your max is 1500w, thats 12.5A. 14G would be fine. If it were me though, I would go 12G. You will be running for an extended period of time, A little overkill is a good thing once in a while

@ bez,

Perhaps the below will be helpful ->

18 Gauge Wire 10 Amps
16 Gauge Wire 13 Amps
14 Gauge Wire 15 Amps
12 Gauge Wire 20 Amps
10 Gauge Wire 30 Amps
8 Gauge Wire 45 Amps

Regards,
Coaster

ok thanks that is alot of help now i can run out and get what i need to finish this projet and get back up and running, can i find 12ga in strand form so i can solder it to the controller board?

bez wrote:.....can i find 12ga in strand form.....

@ bez,

Yes they make 12 gauge multi strand wire. I guess the easiest way to obtain some 12-gauge multi strand wire would be a 12-gauge extension cord.

Regards,
Coaster

Larger wire = less resistance and less heat

If it was me 12 gauge minimum, I would go 10 gauge personally

Coyote

Coaster wrote:

bez wrote:.....can i find 12ga in strand form.....

@ bez,

Yes they make 12 gauge multi strand wire. I guess the easiest way to obtain some 12-gauge multi strand wire would be a 12-gauge extension cord.

Regards,
Coaster

which is just what i did

ok so something went wrong here i have doubble checked my wires all is correct with that, what i am having an issue with is my variable side the full works perfectly. the only thing i can think of is the orig triac resistor broke when diss-assembling the controller unit so i bought some more off line and the top set of numbers match but the second set of numbers dont, i dont know how important that is. so i just put this on the back burner and just bought a new controller unit (WHICH I WILL NOT MODIFY AND USE IT JUST AS IT IS), what an expensive lesson to learn

got my new mlcs speed controller today, plugged my dremel into it and had no juice on variable speed (same problem i had on my build). so i got on google and did a search and found some useful info, plugged my hotplate into the NEW controller and had juice. so just currious i plugged my hotplate into the BUILT controller box and it works. just waisted money on another controller unit but at least i have a backup one. Im more happy that my box works!!!

bez wrote:got my new mlcs speed controller today, plugged my dremel into it and had no juice on variable speed (same problem i had on my build). so i got on google and did a search and found some useful info, plugged my hotplate into the NEW controller and had juice. so just currious i plugged my hotplate into the BUILT controller box and it works. just waisted money on another controller unit but at least i have a backup one. Im more happy that my box works!!!

Why didn't you try using a lamp instead of the Dremel Tool from the get go...??? There is a difference between resistive and inductive loads, as you have discovered... Now all you need is another still to power the that spare controller...

@rad i honestly cant tell you why i didnt choose a lamp to test with, i was thinking that a dremel and also a drill should of worked (guess thats what i get for thinking lol). i think im gonna get this one working right first then maybe get another still. i have been eyeballing the mile hi traditional pot still head tho, and i have a 15.5gal keg already and a propane burner so there would be my 2 stills

@ bez,

Since you got your feet wet with your MLCS Speed Controller suggest with your 15.5-gallon beer keg instead of using a propane burner that you use electric internal water heater element. After converting my 15.5-gallon beer keg to electric I will never go back to propane.

Regards,
Coaster

theres always possibilities...

ok so here's what i have found about this build the mlcs controllers go from 10A on FULL and when switched to variable it drops to 5A at the highest setting. is 5A enough to do what i need? im thinking its cutting out the vital "range" am i correct about this?

well i finally got time to finish my single phase angle controller wired for 120v and i must say, that i amazed myself! first i must say thanks to all who put input into this post and for the couple of PM's back and forth with some great members, so THANK YOU!!! unlike the mlcs build this one gave me a full rane sweep of amps. I have NEVER attempted something of this sort and was quite nervous about the whole thing (i hate messing with SPARKY it scares the bageebees out of me) but enough of the rambling and onto how it turned out.