FLA & LRA? Wiring the Ranco Single Stage Electronic Temperature Control?

For the sake of conversation, please assume I am a total wiring noob (which I am).

First...what do the specifications on the Ranco ETC mean when it gives me the following specs:

NO Contact (I assume that means never open?)
120V 208/240V
Full Load Amps 16A 8A
Locked Rotor Amps 96A 48A
Resistive Amps 16A 8A

NC Contact (I assume that means never closed?)
120V 208/240V
Full Load Amps 5.8A 2.9A
Locked Rotor Amps 34.8A 17.8A
Resistive Amps 5.8A 2.9A

1) What's the difference between never open and never closed?
2) What does Full Load Amps mean (in layman terms)?
3) What does Locked Rotor Amps mean (in layman terms)?
4) I have a 50 amp gfci breaker running to a dryer outlet to my 5500w element. Right now I'm just using the breaker to turn the element on and off. I want to use the Ranco to do that. Since the max pull on the element is 23A, does it exceed what the Ranco is capable of handling?

Thanks a ton for your help! Really trying to get my HERMS unit up as soon as possible

jdlev said:

For the sake of conversation, please assume I am a total wiring noob (which I am).

First...what do the specifications on the Ranco ETC mean when it gives me the following specs:

NO Contact (I assume that means never open?)
120V 208/240V
Full Load Amps 16A 8A
Locked Rotor Amps 96A 48A
Resistive Amps 16A 8A

NC Contact (I assume that means never closed?)
120V 208/240V
Full Load Amps 5.8A 2.9A
Locked Rotor Amps 34.8A 17.8A
Resistive Amps 5.8A 2.9A

1) What's the difference between never open and never closed?
2) What does Full Load Amps mean (in layman terms)?
3) What does Locked Rotor Amps mean (in layman terms)?
4) I have a 50 amp gfci breaker running to a dryer outlet to my 5500w element. Right now I'm just using the breaker to turn the element on and off. I want to use the Ranco to do that. Since the max pull on the element is 23A, does it exceed what the Ranco is capable of handling?

Thanks a ton for your help! Really trying to get my HERMS unit up as soon as possible

Click to expand...

NO = Normally Open
NC = Normally Closed

That is the state of those contacts when there is no power applied to the controller, like before you took it out of the box it came in.

1) What's the difference between never open and never closed?
2) What does Full Load Amps mean (in layman terms)?
3) What does Locked Rotor Amps mean (in layman terms)?
4) I have a 50 amp gfci breaker running to a dryer outlet to my 5500w element. Right now I'm just using the breaker to turn the element on and off. I want to use the Ranco to do that. Since the max pull on the element is 23A, does it exceed what the Ranco is capable of handling?

1) Normally Open are the contacts OPEN when the coil is NOT energized, Normally Closed are the contacts CLOSED when the coil is NOT energized. When you send power to the controller and energize it, the normally open will close and the normally closed will open.
2) Full Load Amps is the maximum CONSTANT amp draw on the controller.
3) LRA (locked rotor amp) or In-Rush amperage is the spike that occurs mainly in motors when they turn on. You have an in-rush of current as the motor goes from a fully stopped position (Locked Rotor) to its running speed.
4)Yes it seems to be too much.

jdlev said:

...
4) I have a 50 amp gfci breaker running to a dryer outlet to my 5500w element. Right now I'm just using the breaker to turn the element on and off. I want to use the Ranco to do that. Since the max pull on the element is 23A, does it exceed what the Ranco is capable of handling?
...

Click to expand...

Short answer: Yes the load far exceeds the capability of the Ranco controller.

I suggest that you make a setup using an Auber Instruments PID SYL-2352 and SSR. It would not take much to accomplish and you could end up with absolute control of your brew rig. You are mostly there already with your GFCI breaker installed.

Edit: Charlotte? ... Hmmmm.