New EZBoil Controller - Help

[tdibratt]

Hi folks I finally got around to building my controller. Everything seems to be working (have not plugged in heating element) as far as tests go on voltage readings except for my 220V.

My design uses a contactor which basically is controlled by a switch so that the 220V can be shut down with the flip of a switch.

When I flip the switch my LED light glows red even though the EZBoil set temp is lower than the reading. When I measure the voltage on the receptacle between the 2 hots I get about 97V. When I change the set temps on EZBoil to a higher temp, I see the red LED glow brighter and the temps between the hots goes to 220V as expected.

I would have expected no voltage at all between the 2 hots until the SSR closed that circuit.

Is this normal? Is this a problem?

Here are pictures of my unit and diagram

 

[TexasWine]

Are you in mash or boil mode?

 

[tdibratt]

Are you in mash or boil mode?

Mash Mode.

It should be on or off.

Boil mode does a percentage of time on/off as I understand it but Mash Mode should not unless I am wrong.

thx

 

[aeviaanah]

This is because SSRs leak voltage.

 

[Smellyglove]

You sure that lamp is wired correctly? I'm not close to being an electrician though.. But shouldn't it sit in parallell between the SSR and the element? Like parallell with the live wire from SSR connected to output 2 on SSR and other side to L1 on element?

 

[tdibratt]

You sure that lamp is wired correctly? I'm not close to being an electrician though.. But shouldn't it sit in parallell between the SSR and the element? Like parallell with the live wire from SSR connected to output 2 on SSR and other side to L1 on element?

It is in fact parallel. Does not look like it in the drawing the way I drew it but if you move the red wire connected to the LED from the conctactor to the receptacle its all connected in parallel.

 

[tdibratt]

I think I found my answer.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/...e-high-side-with-no-input-on-low-side.492622/

In fact if I plug in the element, the LED does not light until the EXBoil turns it on.

Interesting piece of info. I could add a resister to the circuit but 9 times out of ten the element will be in the receptacle anyway so all seems to be OK.

Now I need to get the TC port on a kettle and give it a whirl

thx

 

[Smellyglove]

That's very interesting. I just learnt something new. What a great day to be alive!