 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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"A while back i modified the 1500 w hotplate to stay on constantly. Then i purchased a ranco controll that had 1 degree diferential capabilities in an attempt to get better controll ofer the heat. The item is effective in mashing but falls short when distilling  I sold my variac on ebay years ago and research showed me that a ner one rated at 20 amps would cost a few hundred dollars and up. So i gambled and ordered an unwired and untested thing on ebay for 45 dollars including shipping    "
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/15/2010(UTC)
Posts: 46
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That Variac will work better then the controller as it will keep a constant heat rather than a cycling temperature which doesn't work in our application. How many amps is the variac rated for? at full power 1500w
120v will need 12.5amps. It won't take much of a voltage drop to change the wattage as 60 volts will get you only 375 watts.
My hotplate discolored the floor even while sitting on a cookie sheet, so make sure you don't leave it on a nice table for too long. Did you by-pass the hotplates internal temperature control? Also remember a variac can overdrive the heating element and blow the internal fusible heat link.
I use a 10 amp DC drive for my 1000 watt hotplate with an ammeter, so for heat-up I have it at full power and once it gets to about 140F I dial it down to about 500 watts (4.75amps) for refluxing.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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" Originally Posted by: Chore Chunk  That Variac will work better then the controller as it will keep a constant heat rather than a cycling temperature which doesn't work in our application. How many amps is the variac rated for? at full power 1500w
120v will need 12.5amps. It won't take much of a voltage drop to change the wattage as 60 volts will get you only 375 watts.
My hotplate discolored the floor even while sitting on a cookie sheet, so make sure you don't leave it on a nice table for too long. Did you by-pass the hotplates internal temperature control? Also remember a variac can overdrive the heating element and blow the internal fusible heat link.
I use a 10 amp DC drive for my 1000 watt hotplate with an ammeter, so for heat-up I have it at full power and once it gets to about 140F I dial it down to about 500 watts (4.75amps) for refluxing. Yes i have the hotplate controll by passed to stay on full. I have to look for my clamp on meter-- i had 2 but i think i gave them to my son. I purchased a 20 amp variac and i wired it with stranded #12 so that the power cords are very flexable-- i also used a little better quality plug and receptacle on the ends of the wire . I have a piece of old counter top that i put on the floor to separate the hotplate from the tiles."
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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"I purchased a couple of internally shunted meters and wired them in so i can constantantly monitor the output voltage and current  i'm waiting for my sugar wash to finish dry if that ever happens lol"
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/15/2010(UTC)
Posts: 46
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Nice setup with the oogaly face, too bad I just saw that same variac listed as an antique for $500. Oh well at least those meters will come in handy if not for anything else but to pretend you have control when people walk in the room.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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" Originally Posted by: Chore Chunk Nice setup with the oogaly face, too bad I just saw that same variac listed as an antique for $500. Oh well at least those meters will come in handy if not for anything else but to pretend you have control when people walk in the room. Do you feel better now????"
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/15/2010(UTC)
Posts: 46
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" Originally Posted by: scotty Do you feel better now???? Not really as yours has a huge impressive dial and mine just a small knob, normally I just set it at the right amps and leave it be for 10 hours, unless someone is there then I have study the gauges and micro adjust the amperage all while taking note of the column temps and other complicated fine tunings that don't really do anything."
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