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Voltage controller for electric heating element for boiler
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:13 pm
by brick
I've read a bit on this forum about needing a proper voltage regulator for controlling an electric heating element for a boiler. I recently acquired an old but functional voltage controller. My question is whether such a controller would be appropriate for regulating an electric water heater element for my still boiler.
It is a Powerstat controller made by Aloe Scientific. Here are some pictures.
Please give me your opinion.
Thanks very much.
Re: Voltage controller for electric heating element for boil
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:27 pm
by sambedded
it's a nice controller but not very powerful. you can use only 1000Watt Mac heating element at 120v
Re: Voltage controller for electric heating element for boil
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 3:49 pm
by rad14701
While a nice variac, it doesn't provide enough power for our purposes... You need a minimum of 15A and a 240V variac would be better suited for larger elements...
Re: Voltage controller for electric heating element for boil
Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 7:04 am
by brick
OK, thanks for the information. 1000W max output from that controller is probably not sufficient for a 13 gallon boiler.
Maybe would be OK to drive an electric element for a small boiler, say less than 5 gal?
Re: Voltage controller for electric heating element for boil
Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 7:56 am
by sambedded
brick wrote:OK, thanks for the information. 1000W max output from that controller is probably not sufficient for a 13 gallon boiler.
Maybe would be OK to drive an electric element for a small boiler, say less than 5 gal?
It will work for 5gal boiler just not very fast. You can also install 2 elements. One running directly from mains and second through that variac.