Mount pot/ssvr in spa panel

[fingling5]

Actively converting to electric, and though I would love to have the money and time to do a full on Kal, I'm working on the cheap here. My system will be simple 2 vessel, 1 pump, 1 5500w element. No PID, just ssvr. My question is this - any problems mounting potentiometer and ssvr/heatsink in the actual spa panel?

I'm mounting my spa panel on wall near brewstation: it will be within arms reach of hlt/bk. Adding an additional control box just to mount the pot/ssvr will require more cord and more connectors. So I was thinking why not mount the element control in the spa panel and just use the breaker for my on/off switch.

Where the spa panel will be mounted will not be at risk of liquid exposure. I want to make sure this thing is safe. Love beer, love making beer, but not enough to burn down the garage and/or die.

 

[atoughram]

Go for it! I mounted a 40a contactor in my spa panel. If you've got the room do it!

 

[kenh]

Assuming you are using a steel spa panel, you can bolt the SSR to the side of the housing and use the housing as a heat sink.

 

[fingling5]

There's room in there for the ssvr with heatsink. And maybe a flush mount plug receptacle. Everything seems like it'll fit, as long as there's no issues with electrical noise or interference (or anything else I know nothing about.) I was hoping if there are any problems with this, one of the EE's on here might pitch their two cents.

 

[kenh]

There's room in there for the ssvr with heatsink. And maybe a flush mount plug receptacle. Everything seems like it'll fit, as long as there's no issues with electrical noise or interference (or anything else I know nothing about.) I was hoping if there are any problems with this, one of the EE's on here might pitch their two cents.

I considered doing exactly what you want to do but the spa panels at Home Depot are not deep enough to mount a PID through the front. Then my electrician brother in-law convinced me that I don't need a spa panel at all if I do nothing more than follow safe wiring practices. He mentioned that both my electric dryer and electric stove don't have GFIs. The outside of both are steel and I cook on the stove every day without even thinking about all the power it handles.

 

[fingling5]

Man, I wish I had an electrician in the family. That would help tremendously for this build. Good point about the GFCI stove/dryer thing. Though, after spending a year reading electric brewing builds threads and advice, I've been sufficiently conditioned to require a gfci. You're right about the HD spa panel not fitting a PID. But this years upgrade budget is used up. I had planned a herms or rims with pid and SSVR, selector switches, etc. But I spent half my budget just getting what I need to go electric. And the other half on pump and hose/fittings

Now that I'm there, I'll plan for a fancier upgrade next year: Bobby M's RIMS, PID, and an actual control panel. I tend to suffer from what some musicians call GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) Trying to remind myself that - Hey, this is about making beer, not about how pretty and impressive my system is. :smack: