Not sure what PID/POT to use

[rseiler3]

I have been looking at all sorts of setups when it comes to electric controllers. Everything from digital PID controller to Analog POT's and I feel like I want to go digital but I want to have something that doesn't require programming like a PID controller.
I have seen some 220v systems that have a 2 button digital display that goes from 0 to 100% however I am not able to find a source on where to get it.
I'm hoping that some one knows where I can even start to look
Thanks in advance
Here is a pic of what I am looking for.

[masonsjax]

Stilldragon sells a DIY kit with everything you need. That's a simple way to at least see what's needed. You can also get the self contained 10k watt SCR based controller from ebay/Amazon which couldn't be simpler.

Just remember that a still can't be run based on temperature, so if you go with a PID or other digital control, make sure it has a manual mode that lets you adjust the power directly.

[rseiler3]

Thank you for the reply
The controller in the picture has no temp settings on it at all from what I can tell and it only goes from 0 to 100% power. I am hoping that some one knows what the model number is.
I have looked at the Auber EZ controller however it requires a thermometer probe and I am not sure if that HAS to be plugged in for it to work as I do not want to rely on just temperature, even when that controller is switched to manual.

[DAD300]

Auber provides many options.

There is a pure power controller that can control up to SIX SSR's by percentage of power.
Digital SSR Power Regulator for Wort Boiling Control $33.95
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... cts_id=444" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Then there is the fancy stuff...can be set to reach a temp and alarm, stabilize at that temp or hold a temp for a given time, run element at a percentage of power,...PID thermo controllers, but even they have a manual mode for percentage of power.
EZboil, Power Regulator for Boiling Process Automation Starting at: $46.95
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... cts_id=560" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

These seem expensive, because they are ten times the price of a rotary Potentiometer, but if you added the price of a volt/amp meter and they get more competitive.

[mrjames680]

rseiler3,

I use the exact controller you have pictured and it works great... ish
I find that with a power meter I use I only use it at 100% and at 19%.
100% to get to boil. (5600 watt element)

~19-20% is what I found works for my setup during a run. Its running about 830 watts.
If you do the math the controller should be putting about 1120W not 830W.
Furthermore a setting of 50% is 2380W an not the expected 2600W.
Do I need it to be exactly 56W per increment?... No.
Is about 56W per increment to much. Honestly it takes about 3 increments for me to really notice a difference.

The controller has held up just fine, but its quality and accuracy is lacking. You get what you pay for.

If I were to do it again, I would go with what DAD300 posted.