Steampunk Control Panel Mount
- Thread starter Stoutson
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I think there should be equipment awards as that whole setup is impressive.
The hard pipe gives it that brewery look!
The hard pipe gives it that brewery look!
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- Feb 5, 2012
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That's fantastic, well done!
Thank You, I wanted to start brewing about 5 years ago, first I was going to build a Brutus 10 propane setup until I stumbled on the electric brewery site that took me on a long ride. Couldn’t have a nice setup in a crappy garage so I had to get garage to the level of what I envisioned for my brew setup. Now finally I will brew my first ever batch of beer tomorrow. A Dechuttes Twight Summer ale.
Nice looking mount. I finished my panel up today but I have one problem I need to troubleshoot. I was considering different types of mounts but I'm thinking I will build a 45 degree stand on top of my table, (similar to a piano book panel) for the panel to lay on.
That sounds good, I was interested in steampunk lighting and wanted to build some of those things so this gave me the opportunity to do something along those lines. How long did it take for you to assemble your panel? I think it took me a couple months if I remember correctly.
I was really hoping it looked that good inside. Have seen some spaghetti.
You win the internet today.
You win the internet today.
BitterSweetBrews
Tim Trabold
Very nice, very clean. Great job!
Very well done! Looks neat and clean both inside and out! 
Blazinlow86
Well-Known Member
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Very nice
kal
Well-Known Member
As others have mentioned, nice clean job - well done! You should be proud!
Kal
Kal
kal
Well-Known Member
If you put as much attention to detail into the beer I'm sure it'll be great!
Kal
Kal
Very nicely done!
Esmitee
Well-Known Member
Very cool
milldoggy
Well-Known Member
Love that power meter!
That all looks awesome! Is the wall behind it brick veneer? I was really wanting to do that in my brewery I'm building, but the bricks seemed to cost many times what tile does. Where you able to find a good deal on it somewhere?
Yes all that is real brick cut to 1/2" thick with cement board behind it, nothings cheap and I have been working on that space on and off
for 5 years. But finally making beer!
augiedoggy
Well-Known Member
just a heads up, I would pick up some spare ssrs if you havent already as those are counterfeits according to this.
https://www.ul.com/newsroom/publicn...nterfeit-ul-recognition-mark-release-13pn-52/
and many of the fakes are only using components rated for 10a regardless of the rating on the sticker.
No wonder they were only $1.75 ea
After looking all that over it does look like your right, bummer. Better get new ones. Good Eye!
Esmitee
Well-Known Member
I got exactly 22 minutes out of my Fotek ?40 AMP? SSR, before it melted down . I was timming how fast the temperature was rising, and at 22 minutes...poof. it was toast.
I ordered some new ones
https://www.automationdirect.com/ad...,10A_-_75A_(AD-SSR6_Series)/AD-SSR625-DC-280A
universalfrost
Keep your stick on the ice.
You care to point me to a build list and wiring diagram for your panel?
Yours looks great.
Also why did you not use contactors along with those ssr's?
Yours looks great.
Also why did you not use contactors along with those ssr's?
augiedoggy
Well-Known Member
you dont need the contactors, they are just there for added safety and to remove the voltage when off as well as current.
What I did was look on Google images
https://www.google.com/search?q=ele...Z8KHU0BDD0Q_AUICigB&biw=1707&bih=844&dpr=1.13
On the contactor question, they are big, bulky sometimes noisy, the points get pitted and you dont need them with the ssr's
I am a A/C contractor and contactors are not that great compared to ssr's. I also ventilated top cover and used smaller heat sinks under ssr
augiedoggy
Well-Known Member
They actually do two different things (in this situation) Ideally you should have contactors and ssrs or at least dual pole ssrs. Think about it, your relying on a single pole switch you paid $1.79 for to kill all power to both pole that feed your elements when in reality they only kill current to one pole and allow a large amount of voltage leakage. The points usually get pitted when they are used in a situation where they are switched more often and get hot. Ideally thats not how they would be used here. the ssr would do the temp control and fast switching and the contactor just makes sure the power is completely removed from the cord going to the element when off.
Its just something a person has to be mindful of if you omit them, if they are on a 30a circuit and an ssr sticks it should pop the breaker eventually if they are both on. That said many pro system diagrams im seeing only use ssrs and not mechanical relays..
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Mine works great just the way it is.
I was only joking on that price that I paid for the ssr
augiedoggy
Well-Known Member
oh well they are available for less, a lot less, The point is they were an inexpensive component your relying on. I know you ordered replacements.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...60460906970.html?spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.pfSuIa
I know it works fine, I noted a lot of people dont use them I was just pointing out why a lot of people do use them along with ssrs.
You had implied by saying they are better than contactors that they would only be used in place of the ssrs and for this type of work an ssr is better. Yes the SSr is better for fast switching and not burning the contacts.
But SSRs do fail and when they fail they almost always fail in the on position. Also if you have the elements with the plugs on the end you have to be very careful to note because you do not have contactors, that there is still 120v going to the elements and those plugs at all times because you only have one side of the circuit switched. again something to be mindful if you go to unplug one of them with wet hands thinking its really "OFF".
Sorry if it came across like I was saying your doing it wrong, Thats not really what im trying to say, I know there are many ways to skin a cat. I think without a fan those ssrs might fail on those heatsinks over time. only because I have seen others with this setup have problems here.
I was just trying to explain why the contactors are a good idea and often used along with ssrs for others like Universalfrost who seen this and were confused.
Honestly your panel is something to be proud of... If you saw the wiring and things I did on my first panel you would laugh.. then probably cringe. It worked fine though for years despite the warning people gave me here about things I did (and fake foteks). The speakon connectors did eventually fail when I upgraded my 4500w element in my bk to 5500w though..
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