PID Questions

Wiring your own PID is really super simple, and a good way to save some serious cash, by purchasing the components...BUT....if you are set on buying a "ready to go" unit..

check here:

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14

Hope that helps

basically it's simply wiring a low voltage supply to your PID to power it...and then ordering a SSR (solid State relay) that has the appropriate power and amperage to control whatever it is you want to power up whether that's a blower, or a heating element. Choosing the correct SSR is the crucial step...then a couple wires from the PID to the SSR and the from the SSR to the blower or heating element and then from a 120vac power supply, wire up the temp. probe to the PID  and you are good to go.

I think there are a few schematics on here....and the PID's all come with wiring schematics as well.  Again, fairly simple to do.

Dan

Like flyweed said it's not that hard, I bought every thing from Auber Instruments to do mine, the schematic comes with the controller.

Here is a link for you that got me started;

http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?315-PID-Controller

He used the PID to control his smoke generator, I used his schematic to control a finned heater strip, works fine.

I hope that helps.

Gene

Wiring a PID is easy. You can even get PIDs that have their own built in wide-range power supply, which is what i did. It runs on anything from 100vac to 250vac. 

In my case, I bought the RKC pid controller behind ebay # 220878740832 - which came with a thermocouple (but a stubby one rather than the long one in the auction photo).

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Yes it's in china, it arrived in 2 weeks tho. I cannot vouch for the seller other than to say that my pid showed up in good time and works. it came with chinese language instructions but i found an english language pdf online. There are many other (often RKC brand) auto-tuning PIDs on ebay that will run off of mains without a low-voltage supply. [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There are a few rules to building anything that runs on AC mains. [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1: If it is powered or has recently been powered, keep one hand in a pocket. The only real danger from high voltage is when you create a circuit across your chest, which could stop your heart. So use only one hand when working with the powered circuit, or if it's been powered up in the last couple hours.[/font]  The other hand should not be grounded.

2: In north america AC mains has hot, neutral, and ground (aka earth). If you are only switching one side (the SSR is only switching one side), switch HOT. This is a rule for all AC power use, fwiw, not just PIDs. 

3: If you have metal enclosures, ground 'em. 

4: Aim high for ratings. A 250vac 25A SSR is a perfectly reasonable SSR for a 110vac 12A heating element. 

It's really very simple. You can get a pre-built controller but it is so much cheaper to build your own. I used a gutted AT computer power supply from my own junk pile to keep it in, and recycled the power switch from the same power supply. Reused the wires, too. Used terminal connectors and crimping tool that were cheap at harbor freight tools. 

Tell you what - if you build your own, you can post several pictures of your build before you power it up, and i can tell you if you wired it right. 

How do you I figure out what pid ssr ?

Can a person run a flame boss 200 controller with guru pit bull fan? Are they the same pins?