cbrick
02-28-2009, 01:54 AM
Just installed it tonight and it's really a trick gadget. The controller is a box that sits on the bench next to the pot; it has a green L.E.D. read-out that gives pot temp right from room temp up to its pre-set temp. Under the green L.E.D. is a red L.E.D. that is your set temp, just push the up arrow to raise the temp or the down arrow to lower the set temp.
Once the pot temp reaches your pre-set temp it shuts off and the power on indicator light goes out, the pot temp continues to rise a few degrees due to the heat already in the element. As the pot cools to the pre-set temp it turns on and the temp continues to drop a few degrees until the heating element gets hot enough to raise the alloy temp. There is about a 17 degree up & down temp swing as it cycles on and off. I think that the reason for this is that I welded the nut for the temp sensor dead center of the middle of the bottom of the pot to give alloy temp and not so much the heating element temp. Magma's instructions only say "bottom" of pot. Perhaps the temp swing would be a little less had I placed the mounting nut closer to the side and the heating element. Dunno, just a SWAG but I would rather know alloy temp anyway.
The reason I ordered this unit was the pot temp going up as the alloy level goes down, sometimes by 50 degrees, a common problem with electric pots. I haven’t used it enough yet to guarantee this problem is solved but I’ll wager it is.
As a side benefit, I was kind of surprised at how closely my Lyman thermometer matched the electronic temp readout through its full range from 200 degrees & up, I have always wondered about these thermometers accuracy and now I know, quite close. I also have an RCBS and a Tru-Temp and I'll check them against the electronic read-out.
I ordered the electronic controller and installed it myself but if you don't have access to a welder and aren't fairly adept at mechanical and electric problems I highly recommend sending the pot back to Magma and have them install it. The instruction sheet that comes with it is totally and completely useless leaving it up to you to decide which of the old & new wiring and parts to use, how to wire it and where to place wires and parts etc.
For me the electronic lead pot controller ranks right up there with the air pressure cylinder for the Star Lubri-sizer.
Rick
Once the pot temp reaches your pre-set temp it shuts off and the power on indicator light goes out, the pot temp continues to rise a few degrees due to the heat already in the element. As the pot cools to the pre-set temp it turns on and the temp continues to drop a few degrees until the heating element gets hot enough to raise the alloy temp. There is about a 17 degree up & down temp swing as it cycles on and off. I think that the reason for this is that I welded the nut for the temp sensor dead center of the middle of the bottom of the pot to give alloy temp and not so much the heating element temp. Magma's instructions only say "bottom" of pot. Perhaps the temp swing would be a little less had I placed the mounting nut closer to the side and the heating element. Dunno, just a SWAG but I would rather know alloy temp anyway.
The reason I ordered this unit was the pot temp going up as the alloy level goes down, sometimes by 50 degrees, a common problem with electric pots. I haven’t used it enough yet to guarantee this problem is solved but I’ll wager it is.
As a side benefit, I was kind of surprised at how closely my Lyman thermometer matched the electronic temp readout through its full range from 200 degrees & up, I have always wondered about these thermometers accuracy and now I know, quite close. I also have an RCBS and a Tru-Temp and I'll check them against the electronic read-out.
I ordered the electronic controller and installed it myself but if you don't have access to a welder and aren't fairly adept at mechanical and electric problems I highly recommend sending the pot back to Magma and have them install it. The instruction sheet that comes with it is totally and completely useless leaving it up to you to decide which of the old & new wiring and parts to use, how to wire it and where to place wires and parts etc.
For me the electronic lead pot controller ranks right up there with the air pressure cylinder for the Star Lubri-sizer.
Rick