Why would i want an voltage and ameter on my controller?

[swem]

It's as the title states. Looking at some controllers online and the builders are building "deluxe controllers" with these two readouts. Since I'm not really electric savvy I wonder why these are important.

 

[jeffmeh]

They are not necessary. Aside from the "bling factor," they will show you if the voltage or amperage is off from what it should be. However, if they are far enough off that it matters, you would know anyway, because the panel would not function properly.

 

[Bobby_M]

I agree. It's mostly bells and whistles. The ameter would be an early warning that one of your connections was getting loose on the element side because it would be higher than normal. Will you see it before a meltdown? Maybe.

 

[AnOldUR]

I have both a temperature control and a rheostat on my mash heat source. When I throttle back the element with the rheostat, the voltmeter lets me approximate how many watts are being output. By monitoring both mash temperature and element intensity I have more control over stepping rates.

 

[alien]

With PWM boil control the output is linear, but with phase angle control (or SSVR) the response is non linear so the voltmeter and ammeter can allow you to calibrate the dial.

The ammeter can be useful to see when you are getting close to the limits of your breaker.

 

[LandoLincoln]

It's as the title states. Looking at some controllers online and the builders are building "deluxe controllers" with these two readouts. Since I'm not really electric savvy I wonder why these are important.

Not really necessary. The biggest problem with installing volt / amp meters is that for each meter you also have to install an ac/dc transformer and typically an adjustable DC power supply. Those things take up quite a bit of room in a control panel. If you don't install any of those things, you can get away with a smaller control panel.

 

[MercMan]

I think you would want them when you first set-up just to see if everything is OK, after you are running a hand held volt meter would be nice for troubleshooting, but wiring a volt meter and ammeter into a system is a waste.

 

[pogden]

With PWM boil control the output is linear, but with phase angle control (or SSVR) the response is non linear so the voltmeter and ammeter can allow you to calibrate the dial.

^This. In any case, if the ammeter is set up to measure the output of the SSR/SSVR, it should be a good indication of the amount of heat being applied, or at least provide a way to tune in a previously-successful power setting.

The biggest problem with installing volt / amp meters is that for each meter you also have to install an ac/dc transformer and typically an adjustable DC power supply. Those things take up quite a bit of room in a control panel.

There are small, cheap combo voltmeter/ammeters on eBay that run off 120/240VAC - so no power conversion is needed. Search for "AC Digital Ammeter Voltmeter", or check the link in my sig.

 

[dyqik]

An inline voltmeter is also a handy tool if your power supply is a bit dodgy - it's common to use kill-a-watt meters with electric coffee roasters, because the supply voltage can drop (particularly in the summer in the early evening) when the neighborhood all turn on their AC and electric stoves at the same time) and throw off all the timings for roasting. For brewing, it's less critical, but it would help explain why water is taking a long time to heat etc.

An ammeter is good for monitoring the actual power draw of your elements, e.g. if you have a pot controlling it via an SSR.

Do you need to do these things? No. But you might like to.

 

[processhead]

Agree that they are mostly unnecessary.

Your control panel money will be better spent on other features.

 

[Begin2Brew]

I have both on my panel but never hooked them up. If I did it again I would not have used them.