Recommend simple, robust pid controller

[Wheelspin]

Please help. I need to replace my current PID controller (Gefran 500) because it seems to me that it messes around initially overshoots set temps by 2 03 ºC despite all attempts to to fix it and visits to the local agents.

Could someone please recommend a PID controller that meets the following criteria.

1) Will be used to control a single 4500 W heater element in my HLT herms system.
2) Probe is situated in the inlet into the MT.
3) Must be reasonably priced (read cheap).
4) Must be available on ebay or amazon (I live in South Africa so not all brands available here)
5) Must be able to be set up by someone like me who is an electronics moron and has absolutely no knowledge of PID's or electronic controllers in general.
6) Must be rugged and reliable.
7) Must be 220V and read in ºC.

Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Salpino]

Cheap is a relative term. Auber 2352 is very popular and for good reason. They do ship internationally, though it takes a few weeks:

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3

 

[ebstauffer]

+1 for the 2352. I've used the ebay/chinese versions in the past and seem to migrate back to Auber. More expensive? Absolutely. But the quality and support both from the community and from Auber makes it worthwhile.

 

[muhteeus]

5) Must be able to be set up by someone like me who is an electronics moron and has absolutely no knowledge of PID's or electronic controllers in general.

Autotune is your best bet on that one. Otherwise you have to figure out how to tune a PID yourself, which is far from easy to do correctly.

 

[Decoy]

Aside from the display size - which is why I'm asking - for middle aged eyes, is there a suitability/functional difference (for a RIMS system) between the above 2352 and the Auber SYL-43X2 1/4 DIN? Obviously price...

 

[Salpino]

Aside from the display size - which is why I'm asking - for middle aged eyes, is there a suitability/functional difference (for a RIMS system) between the above 2352 and the Auber SYL-43X2 1/4 DIN? Obviously price...

The dropdown at the top of the product page has four different options. The 4352 has less input options, though both the 2352 and 4352 are compatible with the K type thermocouples that are very popular with Auber PID builds.

Alarm output amperages are considerably higher on the 4352 for both 120v and 240v applications.

That's it as far as I can tell.

 

[Decoy]

Assuming the SSR control option ... the logic and programming should all be the same, then.

Sounds good.

"looking forward" to trying it.

 

[Brumateur]

If you want temperature display in Celsius I can recommend you REX C-100. For example - http://www.ebay.com/itm/PID-Digital...ller-REX-C100-K-Sensor-25DA-SSR-/251312673894

It's definitely not a best PID available but it's good enough and its Price/Quality ratio is unbeatable.

 

[kal]

1) Will be used to control a single 4500 W heater element in my HLT herms system.

The SSR does that, not the PID. So make sure to get one that has SSR output and not relay.

2) Probe is situated in the inlet into the MT.

Where the probe is located is not related to the PID. That's a process control question. You don't have different PIDs that require temp probes to be placed in different places. You need to place the probe wherever makes the most sense in terms of controlling the process you're running (can't make suggestions with that as we don't know your setup, but I have my probe in the HLT to control the HERMS water temp).

3) Must be reasonably priced (read cheap).

Need numbers. At $40-50 find Auber PIDs very inexpensive but some people find them pricey. Industrial PIDs are typically $200+ for cheap ones.

4) Must be available on ebay or amazon (I live in South Africa so not all brands available here)

Why? Auber ships worldwide.

5) Must be able to be set up by someone like me who is an electronics moron and has absolutely no knowledge of PID's or electronic controllers in general.

You want one with a manual that is understandable. Some of the really cheap $20 eBay PIDs come with manuals that are barely English. I would recommend reading the manual for the one you may consider buying before you buy it to make sure you understand. Only you can access your own knowledge level/competency at doing the installation.

6) Must be rugged and reliable.

Open to interpretation, but if something very rugged and reliable is required, I'd be looking at something other than Auber, but you're looking at $300-400 like one of these:

http://www.omega.com/subsection/process-instruments-controllers.html

Auber's not bad but I would not call them extremely rugged. They're at a good price point, I use them myself.

7) Must be 220V and read in ºC.

Most run at a wide range of voltages and only the very cheapest can't do both F and C so you should be ok.

Kal

 

[Wheelspin]

Thank you all.