Auber Digital SSR Power Regulator

[richrob]

Anyone else see this new product?

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_30&products_id=444

I was on their website to buy my final parts, a pid and temp probe for my boil kettle, and this popped up.

It's cheaper and probably easier to control the boil, but I like the idea of setting the pid to 210 or so and not risking a boil over if I let my attention go elsewhere while I'm waiting for the boil.

Thoughts?

 

[BlkWater_brewer]

This is the device to use for your boil kettle. No need for a probe with this unit. Setting a PID to 210 will do nothing to stop the "protein break". Water boils at 212, but protein filled wort doesn't always wait. Wiring is simpler only 4 connections, 2 for incoming power (110) and 2 to your SSR and your done. No need for anything more in my opinion.

 

[richrob]

Imforgot that we are changing the properties of the water, which I guess of the whole point.

It looks good and will end up saving me about $70, but it's lacking something I can't put my finer on.

 

[mabrungard]

You really can't use a PID for a boil kettle. The temperature stays at roughly the boiling point and does not vary. This makes it useless for the temperature sensor to modulate the element power. A pulse width modulator like the Auber unit you mention, is better for boil kettle control.

I built a similar unit for slightly less than the Auber unit, but that required a lot of equipment and know-how that the average person may not have. The Auber unit is actually a pretty slick unit for a decent cost. As a matter of fact, I just ordered one since it looks nicer than my controller and it has a display of the % power.

Thanks for posting that! I would not have known about it otherwise.

 

[aangel]

Anyone else notice Auber's website has removed the "for homebrewing" section?

 

[Bobby_M]

You really can't use a PID for a boil kettle. The temperature stays at roughly the boiling point and does not vary. This makes it useless for the temperature sensor to modulate the element power. A pulse width modulator like the Auber unit you mention, is better for boil kettle control.

I built a similar unit for slightly less than the Auber unit, but that required a lot of equipment and know-how that the average person may not have. The Auber unit is actually a pretty slick unit for a decent cost. As a matter of fact, I just ordered one since it looks nicer than my controller and it has a display of the % power.

Thanks for posting that! I would not have known about it otherwise.

I understand where the OP was going though and it's not about trying to control the boil in PID setpoint mode. For people like me that get distracted often when brewing, it's nice to set the PID to some number below boiling so that you can walk away on the ramp up so you don't boil over while you stepped away. It gets you just under boiling and then you come back and switch to manual mode. Extra points for hooking up the buzzer and having it go off when you get to 210F or 2F below your boiling temp.

 

[tdiowa]

Bought both of these and mounted them in a control box. Installed a 22 mm Flashing Buzzer to go with the timer. Don't know how I got along without it.

Digital SSR Power Regulator for Wort Boiling Control
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_30&products_id=444

Timer for Beer Brewing, Multi-Events
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=16&products_id=356

Flashing Buzzer, 110 or 240V AC. 22 mm
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_33&products_id=215

Really like dealing with the folks at Aubers. Very easy to work with.

TD

 

[The Pol]

You can boil with a PID. It is called manual mode... That is what a good many guys do. Set it at say 60% and it does the same thing as the wort boiling regulator does. It just happens that it can double as a temp control device.

 

[Bobby_M]

In fairness, these devices that have a manual mode are combination PID/PWM controllers so it is still appropriate to say that you should try controlling a boil with "PID". Sure, nit picky, but true. Bottom line, it's not advisable to try to set a PID to your boiling temperature to control the boil but it's totally valid to use it to reach near boiling temps before you switch it over to manaul PWM mode to control the boil intensity.