where to buy switches

[HellBentBrewCo]

I'm building my control panel and I'd like to use the lighted push botton switches I see all over the place here. Where is everyone purchasing theirs from?

 

[Ohio-Ed]

Mine came from automationdirect.com.

Ed

 

[DougyFresh04]

+1 for automation direct. AB quality but low price. That's where I get my switches and relays for work and Play

 

[voltin]

The ones on my panel came from Auber Instruments. They look like this when illuminated:

 

[iijakii]

Why do people put a switch for the alarm? I figured all of that would be PID controlled?

 

[weirdboy]

Because you don't want your relay to be the sole thing keeping you from being electrocuted if something goes wrong.

 

[iijakii]

What does that have to do with the alarm?

 

[weirdboy]

I assumed the button labeled alarm was an e-stop. It looks like an e-stop to me, anyway.

 

[iijakii]

Oh. I assumed it was for the alarm. Heh.

 

[voltin]

Why do people put a switch for the alarm? I figured all of that would be PID controlled?

To disable the alarm when you do not want it to go off. For example if I set an alarm for right before boiling temperature, to make sure I am there to lower the manual mode output and prevent a boil over, the alarm will continue to go off throughout the boil because the temperature is still above the high alarm. There is no way to turn the alarm off from the PID (at least the Auber PIDs) so a switch is wired between the alarm relay and the buzzer.

 

[weirdboy]

There is no way to turn the alarm off from the PID (at least the Auber PIDs)

Wow, I did not know that. I guess that is why so many people install separate timers/alarms on their panels.

 

[iijakii]

To disable the alarm when you do not want it to go off. For example if I set an alarm for right before boiling temperature, to make sure I am there to lower the manual mode output and prevent a boil over, the alarm will continue to go off throughout the boil because the temperature is still above the high alarm. There is no way to turn the alarm off from the PID (at least the Auber PIDs) so a switch is wired between the alarm relay and the buzzer.

Thank you. I had no idea you couldn't enable and disable the alarm from the PID. You can only set the parameters for when it will go off?

 

[BigBobsBrews]

Do an ebay search for Allen Bradley push buttons for these guys:

There a little over-sized, but are very well designed.

 

[voltin]

Thank you. I had no idea you couldn't enable and disable the alarm from the PID. You can only set the parameters for when it will go off?

That is my understanding. I have not completed my build yet, so this is based on what I have read on Auber's site and here.

 

[shortyjacobs]

That's not an alarm "switch", it's an alarm "buzzer". The Auber PIDs have built in alarm RELAYS, but no speaker.

Flashing Buzzer, 110 or 240V AC. 22 mm [FLBuz] - $7.86 : auberins.com, Temperature control solutions for home and industry

Edit: Oh bugger. That's what I get for posting without coffee. I now see the small toggle switch under the alarm. I too didn't realize you couldn't silence the thing without changing the alarm settings on the PID. I'm stealing the toggle switch idea now.

 

[iijakii]

Debating on putting an alarm on my build now or not. I can see where it'd be useful, being able to set an alarm and walk off. But at the same time, don't think I'd really use it. Might look cool though

 

[voltin]

Debating on putting an alarm on my build now or not. I can see where it'd be useful, being able to set an alarm and walk off. But at the same time, don't think I'd really use it. Might look cool though

My thought on the matter is that the alarm+switch didn't add much to the build cost and I would rather have it and not need it then to need it and now have it. For me it would be a huge pain to add one later.