- Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:55 pm
#76107
Awesome, the software looks great!!
My Reflow Controller is finally on it's way to me (Thanks!)
I have converted my oven already and have tested it works correctly.
I used a cheap ($14.90) 25A SSR from Futurlec (SSR25A - http://www.futurlec.com/Relays/SSR25A.shtml)
I couldn't relay see any reason why I would spend $35 on a relay for a $50 oven and $50 controller. The SSR I have is quite well built and seems to function like any other.
I got a bit of a fright when I first fired up the oven. I modified it from new so the first time I turned it on was after the modifications. When I gave power to the SSR the orange neon came on, and so did the quartz heating elements (as expected) but smoke started pouring out of the oven. At firs I thought a wire had shorted or melted, but it turns out that it was the quartz heating elements producing the smoke. I am not sure if this is the correct operation, but it would make sense that new heating elements would need to burn off some residue first.
The oven I used was one that I received as a gift/freebie a while ago, it is a Sunbeam Mini Bake & Grill ( http://www.sunbeam.com.au/Pages/Browse/ ... x?pid=1075 ). It is rated at 1300-1400W and is the perfect size for the panels I get from GPX, leaving a few inches around the edges.
If there is anyone reading this that wants to modifiy the same oven, it is fairly simple, you just wire the SSR in on the HOT side of the 240VAC. I used huge 12AWG silicone wire on any wire I added into the oven, which would be good for 100 or more amperes.
I should receive the controller next week, so it should just be a simple matter of hooking up the relay and thermocouple to the controller and testing it all out. Currently the controller will sit outside the oven, but once I measure the temperatures in the side (electrics) compartment, I will decide if the controller can be mounted in there. Ideally, I would like to make a fully contained unit with the controller and an LCD, but I am not sure if that will work with this oven.
I will report back of my progress in a weeks time
My Reflow Controller is finally on it's way to me (Thanks!)
I have converted my oven already and have tested it works correctly.
I used a cheap ($14.90) 25A SSR from Futurlec (SSR25A - http://www.futurlec.com/Relays/SSR25A.shtml)
I couldn't relay see any reason why I would spend $35 on a relay for a $50 oven and $50 controller. The SSR I have is quite well built and seems to function like any other.
I got a bit of a fright when I first fired up the oven. I modified it from new so the first time I turned it on was after the modifications. When I gave power to the SSR the orange neon came on, and so did the quartz heating elements (as expected) but smoke started pouring out of the oven. At firs I thought a wire had shorted or melted, but it turns out that it was the quartz heating elements producing the smoke. I am not sure if this is the correct operation, but it would make sense that new heating elements would need to burn off some residue first.
The oven I used was one that I received as a gift/freebie a while ago, it is a Sunbeam Mini Bake & Grill ( http://www.sunbeam.com.au/Pages/Browse/ ... x?pid=1075 ). It is rated at 1300-1400W and is the perfect size for the panels I get from GPX, leaving a few inches around the edges.
If there is anyone reading this that wants to modifiy the same oven, it is fairly simple, you just wire the SSR in on the HOT side of the 240VAC. I used huge 12AWG silicone wire on any wire I added into the oven, which would be good for 100 or more amperes.
I should receive the controller next week, so it should just be a simple matter of hooking up the relay and thermocouple to the controller and testing it all out. Currently the controller will sit outside the oven, but once I measure the temperatures in the side (electrics) compartment, I will decide if the controller can be mounted in there. Ideally, I would like to make a fully contained unit with the controller and an LCD, but I am not sure if that will work with this oven.
I will report back of my progress in a weeks time