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Need help with my electrical diagram!!!

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problem solved: SSRs failed closed (2 out of 2...lucky me)
Just ordered two from Auberins, hopefully they're of better value than the cheap China SSRs I went for ...

As much as I respect the service of Auberins, the SSR's are basically the same cheap China crap you would buy from EBAY. As a matter of fact, most of the stuff they sell is that way. The only advantage is you get someone in the US willing to support the product and answer your questions.

I don't know much about the internal workings of an SSR, but could the SSR's have been fried by incorrect wiring? Seems odd for both to fail otherwise.
 
I don't know much about the internal workings of an SSR, but could the SSR's have been fried by incorrect wiring? Seems odd for both to fail otherwise.

Or a misunderstanding of how SSRs really work. I've seen many folk freak out when they test an SSR in-circuit with a multimeter, see 120V / 240V and think it has failed. Even off, SSRs pass a small leakage current of 3-5mA. More than enough for a multimeter to get a voltage reading.
 
what could cause an SSR to fail?
-improper amp capacity
-improper wiring
-inefficient heat release
??
 
As much as I respect the service of Auberins, the SSR's are basically the same cheap China crap you would buy from EBAY. As a matter of fact, most of the stuff they sell is that way. The only advantage is you get someone in the US willing to support the product and answer your questions. ...
That is a fairly inflammatory and disrespectful slam of a great supplier. With your statement there is NO way that you "respect" the service of Auberins. SHAME on you.!

what could cause an SSR to fail?
-improper amp capacity
-improper wiring
-inefficient heat release
??
All of the above or a defective product.
BTW, that can happen to any supplier. There is no way that every item can be bench tested when it comes through the door.
 
yeah, i spoke with Suyi (GREAT PERSON!!!!!), this is what he said:

The SSR we are selling is "extremely" reliable. The failure rate for 3 month is less than 0.1%, unless it is miss used. We sell them by thousands but with less than 2 failed for the last two years. If you have both SSR failed in a short time, something is definitely wrong with your system. You need to find the problem before you damage another one. What is the current of your load? What kid of heat sink is used? Are there any venting for forced air for cooling. Can you send me a picture that show your installation?
Thanks,

-once i gave him the details this is what he ansered:

Thanks for the link. The installation looks fine. The SSR is also looks similar. It might be a cheap copy.
Best regards,
 
Like Jkarp asked in an earlier post... How did you determine the SSR's have failed?
If you used a meter with no load, the SSR WILL pass voltage, which could lead you to think it has failed. If that's how you tested, you could still have a control wiring issue that is causing your elements to continue heating.

Ed
 
really?? crap.....

i followed my wiring diagram....

If the SSR is driving a load, it is because either, it has failed closed, OR control voltage is present.

Did you check the control voltage at the SSR's when you thought it should be off? If control voltage is present, then you have a wiring or logic issue.

You said the elements continued to heat... I assume you were watching a temp gauge to determine this. In some cases, depending on probe placement, the temp can continue to rise because of thermal mass even when the element is off... Imagine momentum keeping it going in a direction (for a while). How long did you wait to see if it was continuing to rise? If you set your temp to 100f and the SSR is failed closed it would eventually boil the water and keep heating.

Ed
 
That is a fairly inflammatory and disrespectful slam of a great supplier. With your statement there is NO way that you "respect" the service of Auberins. SHAME on you.!
Do your research before giving me the Shame on you comment. I can find a lot of what they sell on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-10-X-Solid-...660?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5adb026fe4 for less money if that was the direction I wanted to take. I recently sent Auber $250. so obviously I don't have an issue with them.
 
i left it for several minutes and it just keeps on heating. Even when I dont switch on the PID but switch on the elements...the elements fire up.
 
nope. The element switch is connected to the contactor, and that contactor is 'controlled' by an SSR (on 1 leg) between the contactor and the breaker.

Its as is if the SSR is always on, such that only my element switch is controlling the element...
 
Do your research before giving me the Shame on you comment. I can find a lot of what they sell on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-10-X-Solid-...660?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5adb026fe4 for less money if that was the direction I wanted to take. I recently sent Auber $250. so obviously I don't have an issue with them.
"Do your research"? You have got to be kidding.

Well, I'm glad you didn't buy the SSR's from your link. You could have been in the same boat as Gabrew. It's all about the -
Hell, never mind. Do what you want.

I still firmly remain in the camp that Auber Instruments is a great supplier. Customer service it outstanding. Products are top notch.

Carry on with whatever you choose. It's your decision after all.
 
nope. The element switch is connected to the contactor, and that contactor is 'controlled' by an SSR (on 1 leg) between the contactor and the breaker.

Its as is if the SSR is always on, such that only my element switch is controlling the element...
I borrowed heavily from this build, but put my ssr's after the contactor. NO power is supplied to the ssr until I say so. My 3 position selector switch is almost like a kill switch when placed in the center position. If the ssrs fail on I can still limp through a brewday if necessary.
 
well, if i understand correctly...it works the same way for me.

Having the SSR before the contactor: to matter what the PID signals...no current will reach the element unless I 'turn on' the contactor using my element switch...

I was able to complete my first brew turning the elements on and off continuously using the element switches
 
nope. The element switch is connected to the contactor, and that contactor is 'controlled' by an SSR (on 1 leg) between the contactor and the breaker.

Its as is if the SSR is always on, such that only my element switch is controlling the element...

Gotcha... I thought you had selector switches to provide 'Hand" operation.


Ed
 
well, if i understand correctly...it works the same way for me.

Having the SSR before the contactor: to matter what the PID signals...no current will reach the element unless I 'turn on' the contactor using my element switch...

I was able to complete my first brew turning the elements on and off continuously using the element switches

Yes, same concept but the ssr will never receive voltage and hence wear and tear if its wired after the contactor. So you're protecting the ssr as well as isolating the element.
 
Well I received my SSRs from Auberins...and must admit that I am quite disappointed with what I've received. The SSRs look exactly like the cheap stuff I had ordered for a fraction of the price...

What do you guys think?

DSC_2137.jpg


DSC_2138.jpg
 
Well I received my SSRs from Auberins...and must admit that I am quite disappointed with what I've received. The SSRs look exactly like the cheap stuff I had ordered for a fraction of the price...

What do you guys think?

I have 7 of them in my panel. No issues yet.
 
Gabrew, I think Auber is great. However, I think you have an honest gripe if the SSR manufacturer listed on his site does not match the ones you received. I'd send them an email stating as such and you would have bought what appears to be the same SSR else where had you known.

That said, did they fix your problem?
 
Gabrew, I think Auber is great. (100% in agreement with you) However, I think you have an honest gripe if the SSR manufacturer listed on his site does not match the ones you received. I'd send them an email stating as such and you would have bought what appears to be the same SSR else where had you known. (Exactly my thought)

That said, did they fix your problem?
Dunno yet, will try it out this weekend or early next week
 
were they ordered from Auberins or from ebay (china) ?

Mine were ordered from Auber.

To be honest, I never compared them to the picture on their Website.
But then I wasn't replacing defective ones, so I wasn't comparing.

I certainly agree the picture is different than the product delivered. Is Lind a manufacturer you are familiar with, they are the one in Aubers product description??? Looks like they are a Chinese mfg as well.

I guess my point is... you probably have a right to complain, but unless you specifically wanted the one in the product description, or the one you received is of inferior quality, does it really matter?

Let us know what happens.

Ed
 
I agree with you. Thing is when showing pictures of my control panel to Auber support, he himself said that my SSRs could be cheap copies. From this I was expecting a different product.

I really dont care what kind of SSR i get...as long as it works out in the end. Just kinda sucks when you are expecting something and get soemthing else. Especially if they are the exact same part I could have ordered for a fraction of the price elsewhere. I thought that what was shown on the site was different and of better quality...thats it.
 
I agree with you. Thing is when showing pictures of my control panel to Auber support, he himself said that my SSRs could be cheap copies. From this I was expecting a different product.

I really dont care what kind of SSR i get...as long as it works out in the end. Just kinda sucks when you are expecting something and get soemthing else. Especially if they are the exact same part I could have ordered for a fraction of the price elsewhere. I thought that what was shown on the site was different and of better quality...thats it.

Well, it is possible that the ones you have that failed are not the same... they could be knock offs like designer clothes that look the same.

I don't know what his response would be, but in my opinion, you should be entitled to a refund if you wanted.

Ed
 
All I want is for them to work...ill have to wait a couple of days before getting that answer.

Thanks guys!
 
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