My PID controller DIY

[edadmartin]

I finally finished my PID controller. It uses parts and instructions from Johnnys reloading bench you tube site. The visual instructions are perfect for non electronics savy Diyers. I had some items and bought most on ebay or the surplus electronics store here in town. Everything checks out. No smoke no fire .
All i need to do is get the lead melted and run the auto tune setting.ill post more after that is done.Had to give it a name too Stu P.I.D.

[darrondb]

Well done! Building and using my PID was one of the more satisfying and useful things that I have done recently.

[dragon813gt]

Name is great

[Walter Laich]

love the name, too

I really feel adding a PID has improved my casting sessions.

+ as was said above it was fun to build it

[TexasGrunt]

About what did it run you cost wise?

[lightman]

Love the name! What a sense of humor.

[KenH]

Good job - did you make the enclosure? Sure looks good. How far away from pot do you plan to use it? I just finished a PID controller myself. I made the enclosure from aluminum and mounted to rear of pot as shown.


I'm a bit concerned about amount of heat that will build up, but in the one casting session I've done, about an hour - I think it's ok. Gets warm, but not too hot to hold hand on controller. You can see the spacer to give a bit more air flow. I think I might mount a small fan to force a bit of cooling.

I did mount a plexiglas cover to protect the PID display from lead splashes.

Ken H>

[LenH]

I really like the way some of you guys do things on this site. KenH that is just plain using your noggin.

As for the OP, I like your comments. I got a kit from HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED and had a bit of fun putting the thing together and
more fun using it. Not sure if he is around any more as his website has been taken down.

[dragon813gt]

He was active on a Ruger forum last time I was in there. But that was a few months ago.

[edadmartin]

I had the hobby box and auto fittings but bought the rest online. Id say i have about 50-70 bucks in it.i got some items from my local electronics store so some items are recycled. It was an easy fun build. All i have to do is make a mount for the thermo coupler. The new pot stand was cnc done by a member on this forum but i cant remember his name.

[LenH]

As for a thermocouple mount, the first one I made was out of plumbers pipe strap, doubled over for a bit of stiffness. It worked well on that old Lee 4-20.
I got the Idea off this website so it isn't original but it was on the cheap.

[edadmartin]

I made sort of a spring out of 12awg copper wire,twisted about 8 coils around the thermocoupler rod,then brought the ends back and crimped on an automotive ring connector with the yellow insulator removed and used one of the screws on top of the pot to mount it. Now it sits about 1/4" away from the sides and its 1/4" off the bottom of the pot.works great and its out of the way.sorry no pic though. Note i tried it with thinner copper wire and it got way to hot turned all sorts of mad colors,so id say use a minimum of 12 awg wire from a piece of romex.

[Reddirt62]

Excellent!! Finished my first one as well.....and it actually works! LOL

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[edadmartin]

Thats a classy box. One thing i wanted to tell future builders of PIDs the flat blade thermocoupler plugs that come in 5-6 packs , are really junk. search on line for the heavy duty round pole plug it fits in so much better and you can shrink tube the leads and still tighten the tiny screws