Low budget tempaturecontrol

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Dutch

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I thought I'd share my little hobbyproject here.
The tempature in my 'winecellar' can fluctuate between 20 and 15 degrees celcius.
Thats not too bad but sometimes a bit too low for fermentation for my peace of mind.

I allready had a brewbelt but that got the tempature a bit too high up for my liking.
So I made a low cost tempaturecontroller.
Total about €12,- and some stuff that was laying around.
All I need to do now is drill an extra hole in the buckets lid:

aa8b0f287393733db122fe479ba8d452.jpg


1ba997fd0046cd5c4e794641e6ebf915.jpg
 
Nice work, Dutch.

It's incredible how affordable that temperature controller is (or perhaps how inexpensive they have become in general). I routinely paid over $100 for ones with that capability not very many years ago.

If you are interested in sous vide cooking, you can use that unit to control a crockpot or ricemaker. (I have made some mighty fine meals this way.)

sousvide.jpg
 
Just don't forget to calibrate it, I had to lower it 3 degrees celcius compared to my alcohol termometer.
 
That's it, but check ebay. Mine was $10 delivered.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120-110VAC-...101?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4186da0bfd

I built a box around mine out of an old power supply and wired it to outlet pieces sourced from Home Depot, so it was self contained. Total cost $17. Note: one outlet is hot all the time, the other outlet is turned on/off by the controller. Since this is 110v, I would not suggest this as a DIY project, unless you have a good understanding of wiring.

E993A064-94AA-40FD-B830-40430381BA58.jpg
 
Last edited:
NorCal said:
That's it, but check ebay. Mine was $10 delivered.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120-110VAC-...101?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4186da0bfd

I built a box around mine out of an old power supply and wired it to outlet pieces sourced from Home Depot, so it was self contained. Total cost $17. Note: one outlet is hot all the time, the other outlet is turned on/off by the controller. Since this is 110v, I would not suggest this as a DIY project, unless you have a good understanding of wiring.

NorCal -
I just purchased one for the garage heater -

I know it only has 1 - 10 amp relay - do you know any other relays that I can put inline so I can use a freezer ?
Click to expand...
 
vacuumpumpman said:
NorCal -
I just purchased one for the garage heater -

I know it only has 1 - 10 amp relay - do you know any other relays that I can put inline so I can use a freezer ?
Click to expand...


Steve,

The starting current of a fridge or freezer is about 10 A, and the running current is much lower, so you might get away with just the built-in one. Your idea is probably safer, and is what I would do.

By the way, you would not put this "inline," but rather use the built-in one to control your new external one. That is, the current for the freezer should not go through the STC-1000. PM me if you want a schematic diagram.

Here is a solid-state relay that I think would work well (although it is controlled by low-voltage DC, so you would need a small "wall-wart" type transformer, too): http://www.mpja.com/25A-480VAC-Solid-State-Relay/productinfo/31932%20RL

Here is a conventional relay (not SSR) that is directly controlled by 120 VAC, so you wouldn't need a transformer: http://www.mpja.com/110VAC-DPST-NO-20A-Omron-Relay/productinfo/18900%20RL
 
Thanks Paul

I am very familiar with relays and such - I did not want to go from 110 ac then to a transformer to change to 12 volts in order to make a it back to 110 ac again -

I like the http://www.mpja.com/110VAC-DPST-NO-2...nfo/18900 RL

I will also have to do a little more homework on which other relays are available

I did find this relay after spending little time on the internet -
http://www.grainger.com/product/MAGNECRAFT-Enclosed-Power-Relay-6CWZ1?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/6CWY6_AS01?$smthumb$

price is 10.52 includes shipping - 30 amp

I do like the surface mount and the bigger spade terminals which are also protected
 
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