Anthony_Lopez

Recipes 

Glad to hear it worked out for you. Magnets are always going to be a matter of availability and power, which is why I use a steel washer to fine tune the plate before gluing permanently. Thanks for the kudos!

__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa

My Cheap and Easy Stirplate

mthompson

Recipes 

Does that illuminated rocker switch actually illuminate? I have one for my second stir plate (gave the first to my FIL), but I can't get the LED to turn on. It turns the fan on just fine, but the light doesn't work.

Do you, or anyone else, have a diagram on how to properly wire a spst LED rocker switch? Mine has three connections; 1,2, 3+-

Thanks,

__________________
MT
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Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. - Psalm 69:1

Anthony_Lopez

Recipes 

It should have 3 pins. They are labeled "Source" "Load" and "Earth"

The positive side of your power supply connects to the "Source" pin on the switch. The "Load" Pin goes to the Positive wire on your Fan. The "Earth" Pin should be attached to the ground of the fan and the ground of the power supply. That should illuminate your switch.

__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa

My Cheap and Easy Stirplate

joety

Recipes 

Yes, but I used the exact parts and instructions Tony prescribed so it was a no brainer.

__________________
Conical 1 - Kern River Citra IPA
Conical 2 - Empty
Carboys - Empty
Secondaries - Empty
Lagering in Kegs - Munich Helles
Kegged: American Wheat/Rye, Kolsch II, American Original Pale Ale, Belgian Stout, Resurrection Milk Stout, House IPA, Bourbon County Stout, Gulden Draak, BLC
Bottled: Oaked Bourbon Porter
Planned: ???
Now Open: My new 10 gallon Kal inspired RIMS brewery

mthompson

Recipes 

The switch I have is a different one, its not labeled as you stated Anthony. It has two silver collored pins, 1 and 2; and a gold colored pin 3+- (or something, I don't have it in front of me); you can kind of see this in the picture.

I'll have to check when I get home, but it might be rated for more than 12vdc, which might mean the light will not work on the lower voltage for this project. (side note - I did learn that running a 12v fan on a 14.5v adapter will melt a fan in about 10 minutes )

I tried a few ways of connecting it, but I was just guessing from other projects/experience. I got a spark on the ground wire from one arrangement and stopped messing around before I ruined something else.

I'll look and see if your labels make sense with my switch, and then try to rewire it. The switch works, but I would like the light to work as well, just the nerd side I guess.

Thanks,

__________________
MT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. - Psalm 69:1

Anthony_Lopez

Recipes 

That looks EXACTLY like a 120VAC rocker switch I bought from Radioshack.

__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa

My Cheap and Easy Stirplate

mthompson

Recipes 

That's where I got mine, didn't ever think to look if it was a 12v.....that's why I am thinking its 120v.

Is that gonna make the LED un-usable?

__________________
MT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. - Psalm 69:1

notwoohoo

Recipes 

I've tried building this with limited success so far...

I'm using the 8x6x3 project box from radio shack, a 12v pc fan that is around 3.25", screws in the project box that are 2" (leaving an inch before the top of the encolsure). I've tried using both a 12v and a 5v adapter. With the 12v, my 1.5" stirbar gets immediately thrown off center in my 200mL flask filled with 650mL of harvested yeast (test run). The 5v power source appears to not turn the magnet. I'm using two hard drive magnets, mounted on a large metal washer. I'm thinking of giving up and just buying some magnets from McMaster (anyone got a part #? - there is a bunch of rare earth magnets).

Anyone got a helpful trick or tip for me? Thanks in advance!!

Edit: Didn't mention that I'm using this basic design with the rheostat.

Jonnio

Recipes 

If your immediately throwing your stir bar your magnets probably just need to be repositioned.

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Official member of HBAMAP (Home Brewers Against Murder and Pedophilia)

notwoohoo

Recipes 

Because they are not centered?