Need to include indicator lights....how?

[sablesurfer]

Nearing the end of my fermentation chamber build, but I still have not figured out how to include some indicator lights for everything that is going on inside. Basically I need the indicators to light up when stuff is running. This way I can see at a glance if any part of my rigged up system has failed, without opening up the chamber.

I would like to use LEDs....but I have had NO electrical circuit training since my boy scout merit badge in the late 70's.

I need the following LED's hooked up somehow:
-- I need one for the heat chamber fan (this is running 12vdc)
-- I need one for the heat chamber light bulb (this is running 110vac)
-- I need one for the recirculation fan (this is running 12vdc)
-- I need one for the cooling chamber fan (this is running 12vdc)
-- Would like one for the refrigerator portion, but guess I could listen for compressor (this would be running 110vac)

Now here is where my theory gets sketchy to non-existant.

... can I just buy any old 12vdc LED for the fans? do i need to worry about the miniscual amperage on those? If I do, how to I make it match the wall warts supplying the 9vdc power?

... can I just buy any old 120vac LED for the others?

... how do I wire them so they are actually showing that the item is working? I assume I can run them in 'parallel' on the ground leg of the circuit? (I can't run in parallel with the fan, because that would just read the power from wall wart, not that fan was actually running?)

Any of this even make any sense?

 

[sablesurfer]

Oh...probably just looking for those all in one LED assembly or 'indicator' lights so that I don't have to mess with resistors and capacitors and all the other things I have no idea what to do with.

 

[MaxOut]

You can buy LEDs that work on AC or DC current. They draw little current and would be wired in parallel with the fan, compressor ect. So when fan is on LED is on etc.


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[Photopilot]

I have a love controller and a light comes on when either the heat our cool circuit is on. Although I don't feel it's necessary. I test the circuit by chilling or heating the sensor and seeing the result. I then tape the sensor to the fermenter and shut the door.

 

[sablesurfer]

I have a love controller and a light comes on when either the heat our cool circuit is on. Although I don't feel it's necessary. I test the circuit by chilling or heating the sensor and seeing the result. I then tape the sensor to the fermenter and shut the door.

The problem is I have multiple parts to each of my chambers. I need to now if the bulb is burned out inside the can without trying to time the temp controller and taking it apart. So I cannot rely on just the controller saying "yeah sure, it's all turned on now."

I want to know if the fan that is hidden inside a PVC pipe is actually running, the controller can try to turn stuff on, but if the fan is not running then I would never know unless I pull the PVC pipe out of the recirculation system I have and look down it....while still having the fan plugged in and mess with controller to kick it off.

 

[raouliii]

What you're looking for is more complicated than a simple LED attached in parallel to each of the loads. A parallel connection would only indicate that power is being made available to the light bulb and/or fan, it would not prove that the bulb or fan are actually functioning. The LED would continue to be lit even though the bulb and/or fan are not running.

You're looking for an indicator that basically senses current, which is a series connection. However, the design becomes much more critical. Any indicator, LED, incandescent, etc. would need to be compatible with the current draw of the light bulb and/or fan and not represent much of a voltage drop to the load.

The other, and more expensive, route is actual current sensing modules.

 

[sablesurfer]

raouliii - what I am wondering, if I put the LED in parallel after the item in question...so after the lightbulb...if the lightbulb fails, then no power would get past that lightbulb right?

I was kinda thinking, wouldn't the fan be same way? If it was not working then no power from the power lead would get past to travel down the black wire? Maybe?

 

[raouliii]

No. It doesn't work that way. In parallel, the additional indicator is just another independent load.

 

[ClaudiusB]

... how do I wire them so they are actually showing that the item is working? I
Any of this even make any sense?

Simple to do.
Search for a Company called Airotronics.
They sell current sensors with panel mount LED to monitor your devices.
It's just a current transformer which turns on an LED, but all your devices have to run on AC.
Change your fans to AC type, or ebay sell AC/DC hall effect current sensors.

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

 

[sablesurfer]

Looking those up today, see what i find.

 

[ClaudiusB]

Looking those up today, see what i find.

One more option: current swich.
I have seen them on ebay two for $22.00