Building a New Smoker, Need a controller for 220v

marshalgriffith

Newbie

Original poster

Dec 23, 2012

4

10

• Dec 23, 2012

• #1

Hello,

I am turning an old upright freezer into an electric smoker and have a 220 v heat source.  I am looking for a controller/probe set up.  I have never built a smoker, but I am pretty handy around the house with wiring and have a wiring schematic that I found on the internet.  If anyone can send direct me to some place that has economic prices, I would certainly appreciate it.

Marsha

 

diggingdogfarm

Master of the Pit

Jun 23, 2011

4,648

177

Southern Tier of New York State

• Dec 23, 2012

• #2

Welcome to SMF!

http://www.sausagemaker.com/buildyourownsmokehouse.aspx

http://www.alliedkenco.com/search.aspx?find=controller

You may find a better deal on eBay.


~Martin

 

marshalgriffith

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Dec 23, 2012

4

10

• Dec 23, 2012

• #3

Thanks,

I was hoping to buy parts that were not specifically for the meat industry because I thought they might be cheaper, but I am not sure exactly what I need to buy.  I have looked on ebay and things were cheap there, but I wanted to buy from the US.

 

handymanstan

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

Oct 27, 2012

989

48

Lansing Michigan

• Dec 23, 2012

• #4

Just buy a PID with a probe type k and a ssr that will handle 240 most do off ebay.  The pid does not care what voltage just the ssr.  the one I got was $39.00

Stan

 

handymanstan

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

Oct 27, 2012

989

48

Lansing Michigan

• Dec 23, 2012

• #5

Like this  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-PID...all_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item27cd5182fc

 

timleo

Smoke Blower

Feb 27, 2009

87

13

Illinois, USA

• Dec 23, 2012

• #6

take a look at the Aubers controllers at http://www.auberins.com/

 

marshalgriffith

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Dec 23, 2012

4

10

• Dec 23, 2012

• #7

Thanks so much.  Here is the wiring schematic I found.  Does this look right to you?

 

handymanstan

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

Oct 27, 2012

989

48

Lansing Michigan

• Dec 23, 2012

• #8

Yep that will work.

 

dward51

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Nov 24, 2011

2,865

538

McDonough, GA

• Dec 23, 2012

• #9

I've also seen 220v setups where only one leg of the 220v circuit was switched by a single SSR.  Either way will work.  Here is a diagram Walleye1 posted a while back.  He used a 2nd control unit to switch a contactor as a master over temperature safety (it cut the power to the SSR and element if the temps got above the set safety level if his PID controller failed or there was a grease fire).   Note he also pulled 120v for the two controllers, SSR fan and his heat source in his diagram.

220diagramcopy.jpg

• dward51
• Dec 18, 2012

 

Last edited: Dec 23, 2012

walleye1

Fire Starter

Dec 9, 2007

56

11

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

• Dec 25, 2012

• #10

Marshallgriffith

You can't go wrong with Auber Instruments. I've built a number of smokers including two different 220v setups and all of them have used Auber parts. He is pretty reasonably priced too.

Mike

 

grupe

Newbie

Nov 20, 2010

26

10

• Dec 27, 2012

• #11

Take a look at this post: http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/131356/electric-temp-controller-120-240
 

 

grupe

Newbie

Nov 20, 2010

26

10

• Dec 27, 2012

• #12

BTW: There is no reason to have an SSR on both legs going to the element. Stopping the current on one leg stops the element from heating.

current = voltage / resistance

So if current = 0, there is no voltage so the element is off.

 

S

sparky30_06

Meat Mopper

Jan 2, 2008

180

10

Magnolia, TX

• Dec 28, 2012

• #13

grupe said:

BTW: There is no reason to have an SSR on both legs going to the element. Stopping the current on one leg stops the element from heating.

current = voltage / resistance

So if current = 0, there is no voltage so the element is off.

Click to expand...

Grupe you are correct but by only dropping one leg still leaves voltage potential is still in the heatnig element.  To do things correctly and safely you should break both legs on a 240v circuit.  This can be done with a 2 pole relay or SSR

 

iowa josh83

Smoke Blower

Mar 22, 2011

128

14

Iowa

• Dec 28, 2012

• #14

Have you considered using a control board from an old oven? I've got that on my fridge and my temp fluxuations are only about 10-15 degrees. If you looking for a cheap solution this would be a good choice.

 

marshalgriffith

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Dec 23, 2012

4

10

• Jan 20, 2013

• #15

After first trying to order the controller in the United States and the SSR and thermoocoupler separate and being unable to get it to work.  I ordered HandymanStan's suggested group of equipment from China.  It worked great.  We spent this week smoking smokies and brats for the past two days and it worked great.  Never straying more than a degree or two.  Although the first day we watched it carefully, by today we are confident that if we chose, we could bake cakes or pies even.  It is that accurate.  Thanks HandymanStan!