First off, I want to thank everyone for their help so far. I take none of you for granted and this community continues to amaze me about how helpful everyone is to people like me who are still searching for a clue. I know it takes time to read and respond to posts like this, and I promise to pay it forward (mostly with brewing advice which I'm good with--I don't see myself dispensing electric advice any time soon! )
Now, with that introduction, there are some lingering questions about the RIMS controller I'm currently working on. The major concepts and such I have down, but as I continue to drill down deeper into finer detail, I find myself coming up with some additional questions. First off, this is the build that I'm planning on
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/help-rims-controller-412746/
Here are my questions:
1. The notes say that the element must be a low density 2000W. I want to use a 1500W low density element instead. I can't tell if the wording of the notation on the wiring diagram is saying the element needs to be low density or that it needs to be 2000W. A bit ambiguous. So, am I okay with the lower wattage element? I'm no expert, but intuition tells me that I should be okay going with a lower wattage element than called for in the design rather than vice versa.
2. I'm confused how the wiring diagram is telling me to wire the E-Stop button. The terminals on the switch don't seem to match the diagram, and the diagram does not label the terminals the way the actual switch does. At the very bottom of this post is a picture of the back of the E-Stop switch.
Can someone provide some additional guidance about which wires go where on this switch?
3. I purchased all 14 gauge wire. Are there any places on the diagram (again, assuming I'm using a 1500W element) where I should go with something like 12 or 10?
4. My enclosure doesn't have a grounding post. Is that a problem? I'd think that it should and perhaps it would suffice is a drilled a hole and added a bolt to which I can add some ground wires. And, on a related front, the wiring diagram itself doesn't seem to indicate precisely how to ground the enclosure. Is that typical?
Thanks again in advance for everyone's insight.
Now, with that introduction, there are some lingering questions about the RIMS controller I'm currently working on. The major concepts and such I have down, but as I continue to drill down deeper into finer detail, I find myself coming up with some additional questions. First off, this is the build that I'm planning on
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/help-rims-controller-412746/
Here are my questions:
1. The notes say that the element must be a low density 2000W. I want to use a 1500W low density element instead. I can't tell if the wording of the notation on the wiring diagram is saying the element needs to be low density or that it needs to be 2000W. A bit ambiguous. So, am I okay with the lower wattage element? I'm no expert, but intuition tells me that I should be okay going with a lower wattage element than called for in the design rather than vice versa.
2. I'm confused how the wiring diagram is telling me to wire the E-Stop button. The terminals on the switch don't seem to match the diagram, and the diagram does not label the terminals the way the actual switch does. At the very bottom of this post is a picture of the back of the E-Stop switch.
Can someone provide some additional guidance about which wires go where on this switch?
3. I purchased all 14 gauge wire. Are there any places on the diagram (again, assuming I'm using a 1500W element) where I should go with something like 12 or 10?
4. My enclosure doesn't have a grounding post. Is that a problem? I'd think that it should and perhaps it would suffice is a drilled a hole and added a bolt to which I can add some ground wires. And, on a related front, the wiring diagram itself doesn't seem to indicate precisely how to ground the enclosure. Is that typical?
Thanks again in advance for everyone's insight.