Home Distiller

Ok so I am not exactly electrically savvy person, but I have built a control box for my 5500w water heater element. I am using a solid state relay with a potentiometer to control it like the diy controller from stilldragon.com. I have seem to have run into a little problem though, when I am testing the output voltages with everything hooked up, I am getting a voltage range from ~236 to 241V. My ssr and pot models are as followed:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0087Z ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LT ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I have hooked everything up like this: Any sort of help would be greatly appreciated.

Are those voltage readings under full load using the element...???

Did you get a 2W 500K Ohm potentiometer...??? I didn't see the rating stated...

Those readings were taken from the lowest setting of the pot(236v) and the highest setting (241v). That just doesn't seem like a big difference to me. As far as the pot goes, it's 500k ohm but I'm not sure about the power rating. I'll check and see if I can maybe find it somewhere on the knob. Would I need a 2W model to control it?

hotkarl wrote:Those readings were taken from the lowest setting of the pot(236v) and the highest setting (241v). That just doesn't seem like a big difference to me. As far as the pot goes, it's 500k ohm but I'm not sure about the power rating. I'll check and see if I can maybe find it somewhere on the knob. Would I need a 2W model to control it?

They are usually spec'd for 2W but it might work with lower wattage... I'd unsolder the potentiometer and test it with a multimeter set to Ohms...

Forget voltage, you need to be measuring current flow... AKA Amps. With the load hooked up, ofcoarse.

Where exactly were you measuring your voltage, from neutral to the supply, or to the element?

Do you have your load (heater or lamp) connected when you did measurement? This SSR doesn't work with no load.

1/4watt pot should be fine. Should say right on the SSR. Make sure you don't have anything attached to the third lug on the pot. Also that SSR has a resistive range of 470ohms-500Kohms, you need a 470 Ohm resistor in series with it.

When I took the measurement, I just hooked my multimeter to the end of the wired coming off of the controller with nothing attached. I'm guessing I need to hook an ammeter up with my element in the circuit and give it another go before assuming I got the wrong parts. Thanks for all the help guys

hotkarl wrote:When I took the measurement, I just hooked my multimeter to the end of the wired coming off of the controller with nothing attached. I'm guessing I need to hook an ammeter up with my element in the circuit and give it another go before assuming I got the wrong parts. Thanks for all the help guys

The controller must be under load to have an accurate reading... It won't push power into thin air, it requires a resistive load...

Not sure what your question is?

You are getting the voltage you need so what is the problem you are having?

MuleKicker wrote:Forget voltage, you need to be measuring current flow... AKA Amps. With the load hooked up, ofcoarse.

It doesn't mater what to measure voltage or amperage if you have a load connected.