Control panel build

I am at a limit with my panel for 220v circuits. Can I build a controller from 120v input that will control both march pump & 1500-2000w element for RIMS tube? I don't think you can have more than one receptacle on a 220v line line you can 120v can you? Otherwise my problem is solved.

You should have a question of ampacity. How many amps does your source support? How much additional amperage do you need to drive your secondary controller?

I am not aware of any restriction on adding a second receptacle on a 220V line. All wiring needs to be sized to the amperage of the breaker.

Keep in mind that 'code' states to NOT exceed 80% of the breaker rating.

'da Kid

So can you run a 2000w element (120v) & a marc pump from a control box build & do you have a good build diagram?

It depends on what devices you are using. Even then most of the manuals will show you typical wiring configurations.

Send over a model number for your controller and I can link you to the manual or help you design wiring!

Let me find it down in my project box & ill let you know. I plan to build my own RIMS w/a 1500-2000 watt 120v element to use the controller with & a march pump.

And just to be clear, is your supply voltage 220Vac(3 wire)? Or 120Vac(2Wire)?

120 v 2 wire w/ground. Is this possible? I know just enough about circuitry to be dangerous!

Its a REX-C100 controller. Looks like an Auber but its a Honk Kong spin-off.

Yea it's a question of amperage. But I'd assume that you could, I run 4 elements (7.4kW total) on a 50amps, so that could most likely do both the burner and the pump, maybe even so if your on a 30A.

How do you wire it from that single 30 or 50 amp 120v circuit to provide power to both receptacles of the control panel?

Bring in your 3 wires (Black-Line, White-Neutral, Green-Ground\Earth). Ground the cabinet to the green wire (there should be a post for this). Then you can bring your input (Black and white)voltage to a terminal block then out to the devices, or daisy chain the devices (Input-A-B-C-D).

Terminal blocks would be the best method, especially if you want to fuse devices individually.

Let me know if this makes sense, or I can sketch something up quickly.

Kinda following ya. What are terminal blocks? Are these relays or are you referring to the controller pid or to the plug receptacles? A drawing would be helpful if you could!

Thanks!

owentp said:

Kinda following ya. What are terminal blocks? Are these relays or are you referring to the controller pid or to the plug receptacles? A drawing would be helpful if you could!

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Terminal blocks take one wire connection and turn it into multiple connections. Or just act as a place to connect two different wire runs.

owentp said:

Kinda following ya. What are terminal blocks? Are these relays or are you referring to the controller pid or to the plug receptacles? A drawing would be helpful if you could!

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Pictures showing terminal blocks inside my enclosure.
Look at them as a distribution system.

http://m238.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/ClaudiusB/Brewing for dummies/100_0048.jpg.html?o=25

http://m238.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/ClaudiusB/Brewing for dummies/100_3369.jpg.html?o=24
Cheers,
ClaudiusB

Yes, you can run both your controller and a heating element from a single 120VAC circuit. You will need to determine what amperage your power circuit is (or can be). I would recommend at least a 20A circuit breaker, preferably the GFCI type. That circuit would require #12 AWG wiring. This would be fine with a 1500W element (12.5A) for your RIMS tube and your controller (the datasheet I found for it only showed a 50mA current draw at 120VAC). If you choose a 2000W element (16.7A), you'll be getting close to capacity and will be exceeding the 80% guideline. You could then choose a 30A (GFCI) circuit breaker, but would need to ensure that the circuit is wired with #10 AWG wire.

Another style of readily available terminal blocks are below. I use what's called a power distribution block for my panel that has 240VAC, 50A incoming hot, hot, and neutral wires, along with a ground block for the grounds. This is an easy way to distribute multiple, smaller gauge wire circuits from a single, larger incoming circuit. See an example below.

Like a Buss bar?

Could I run the controller, element & march pump? Any good wiring pics? I'm one of those visual learners.

This is a pic of the diagram & connections to my controller. Its a Rex C100. Chinese version of a Aubins. Anybody make heads or tales of where I am supposed to connect what wires to what connections?

owentp said:

This is a pic of the diagram & connections to my controller. Its a Rex C100. Chinese version of a Aubins. Anybody make heads or tales of where I am supposed to connect what wires to what connections?

Click to expand...

Well...it looks like 1 and 2 are your power in (not polarized, most likely). 8/9/10 are for connecting your RTD probe. 6/7 are the alarm. 4 goes the positive side of the SSR, 3 goes to the negative side of the SSR.

Trying to figure what numbers go with what connections.

owentp said:

Trying to figure what numbers go with what connections.

Click to expand...

Look closely and you should see the mini numbers molded into the plastic.
#1 should be top left and #6 top right as per a PDF I have seen.

Thanks. I'll take a look.

I'll be damned, ClaudiusB, you were right! Thanks for the input! Would have never seen those otherwise. Probably why i could never get it to work!

Any chance you can send me that pdf? I got it working but need to get a different 2 wire thermocouple that has a longer probe. I went in to play with settings & screwed them up & need guidance for correct settings with k style thermocouple.

owentp said:

Any chance you can send me that pdf? I got it working but need to get a different 2 wire thermocouple that has a longer probe. I went in to play with settings & screwed them up & need guidance for correct settings with k style thermocouple.

Click to expand...

Scroll down and you will find C100, 400, etc.

http://www.rkcinst-usa.com/manual_download.html

Cheers,
ClaudiusB