Just a post of my finished pid controller setup

[Tciambotti1]

Just finished building my first “real” controller for my 4-20. Huge shoutout to Johnny’s reloading bench YouTube page.

[deces]

Looks good. I must admit, it was a fun project.

[pworley1]

Well done.

[lightman]

Nice! You will enjoy it.

[centershot]

Just finished building my first “real” controller for my 4-20. Huge shoutout to Johnny’s reloading bench YouTube page.

That looks great! What did you use for a box?

[Walter Laich]

good job!

[n9tkf]

Looks great.

[jdgabbard]

Looks almost identical in layout to the way I did mine. Only I added a 12v fan for the SSR using an AC/DC converter, as well as an always on output. I'm working on designing a MCU based controller using that will be controllable from the box or over RS232, but I haven't had time to work on it for several months. Originally it was going to be designed as a reflow oven controller with resettable thermal patterns. But this works well enough for melting lead and or PCing boolits. Though I wouldn't mind having the RS232 functionality to map the temperature over time....

Good job.

[deces]

That looks great! What did you use for a box?

The project box and all of the other parts are linked here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgixJeF0vEU

[Tciambotti1]

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/products/metal-instrument-enclosure-e-4

This is the box I used. If I was to do it again, I might get a slightly larger to add an outlet and or usb outlet.

Thanks for the kind words about the build. Just getting into the hobby.

[missionary5155]

I wonder if all of us have not said,, "If I was to do it again....."
Fine looking and not alot of spare space.

[Tciambotti1]

I wonder if all of us have not said,, "If I was to do it again....."
Fine looking and not alot of spare space.

That’s no joke. “If I had a nickel”

[steveu]

Very nice! I built one also, works great.

[OS OK]

I had a PID that only read out in Cº...it sat around for a long time in the junk box. Finally I installed it in my PC oven.

https://i.imgur.com/TRS0ymN.jpg

[Tciambotti1]

I had a PID that only read out in Cº...it sat around for a long time in the junk box. Finally I installed it in my PC oven.

https://i.imgur.com/TRS0ymN.jpg

Mine is the same. I’ve tried all of the convert to Fahrenheit procedures but this one doesn’t seem to be able to do it. I have a conversion sticky note on the lid. I’m building another one now for a buddy with all the changes I should have done the first time. I assume anyone that sees this is more than capable of building their own, but is there any market for these?

[OS OK]

Mine is the same. I’ve tried all of the convert to Fahrenheit procedures but this one doesn’t seem to be able to do it. I have a conversion sticky note on the lid. I’m building another one now for a buddy with all the changes I should have done the first time. I assume anyone that sees this is more than capable of building their own, but is there any market for these?

I don't know...seems like for everyone like us that build our own stuff there's 10 out there that can't. As far as this handloading community the majority of us are always talking about 'cheap'. So...I haven't a clue about a market.

[n9tkf]

Looks almost identical in layout to the way I did mine. Only I added a 12v fan for the SSR using an AC/DC converter, as well as an always on output. I'm working on designing a MCU based controller using that will be controllable from the box or over RS232, but I haven't had time to work on it for several months. Originally it was going to be designed as a reflow oven controller with resettable thermal patterns. But this works well enough for melting lead and or PCing boolits. Though I wouldn't mind having the RS232 functionality to map the temperature over time....

Good job.What MCU will you be using? Seems like a fun project endeavor.

[bandanaman]

Mine is the same. I’ve tried all of the convert to Fahrenheit procedures but this one doesn’t seem to be able to do it. I have a conversion sticky note on the lid. I’m building another one now for a buddy with all the changes I should have done the first time. I assume anyone that sees this is more than capable of building their own, but is there any market for these?

You are not alone with this problem. I have a Berme REX C-100 which I can not get to read in Fahrenheit for my lead pot. I can not get it to read correctly either. I put the thermocouple in boiling water reads [100 C ]"perfect right ?" I put it in lead test with a manual Lyman thermometer reading 750 F [PID says 530 C" ] not so perfect, this would be 986 F" I t does however control the temperature as it should and will maintain the 530 C .As long as I can confirm the temperature and maintain it I am happy.....

[slim1836]

When I finished mine, I was too scared to turn it on as I knew nada about electricity. When it didn't fry upon turning it on, I was a happy camper. I use it on my 4-20 pot and bought a second one from Hatch as a standby.

Some things are best left up to the professionals, stuff I can't see scares me.

Slim

[n9tkf]

You are not alone with this problem. I have a Berme REX C-100 which I can not get to read in Fahrenheit for my lead pot. I can not get it to read correctly either. I put the thermocouple in boiling water reads [100 C ]"perfect right ?" I put it in lead test with a manual Lyman thermometer reading 750 F [PID says 530 C" ] not so perfect, this would be 986 F" I t does however control the temperature as it should and will maintain the 530 C .As long as I can confirm the temperature and maintain it I am happy.....Seems you may have the wrong range selected for the thermocouple. I briefly looked at the manual but I don't have a unit in front of me to test. This video may help to change units to degrees F.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UETVv0qgz-w

[Combatvet]

I just built a second PID for my bullet coating oven yesterday. I used the MYPIN T Series pid for my pot and oven for the past couple of years with no issues. I don't know if it would be worth changing out to a different brand to solve your issue?

Nice project you got here, I will say a bigger box made it easier for me to get all the connections made yesterday.

[Tciambotti1]

You are probably right with the different brand. Seems like there are a bunch of these Chinese made controllers. I might try to find a slightly larger box for the next one. I, for some reason, really want a usb and 110 outlet on it as well. I ended up just writing a few C to F temp conversions on the lid for quick reference.