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OldPikeBrewery
Joined: 12 Nov 2015 Posts: 7 Location: Holland, MI
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Link Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:20 pm Post subject: SSR keep failing, need help |
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I built a kal clone control panel, I started with a smaller heat sink and blew 2 ssr relays on the HLT side so I bought the big heat exchanger from the electric brewery and on my second batch I blew the HLT ssr again. The barn is only 45 degrees and it didn't seem like it was getting hot until the relay blew out. I bought Amazon relays from the link on the electric brewery. Any thoughts? Am I doing something wrong? Or is it a cheap batch of relays. Electric brewing supply has ssr's that look the same as the ones I have and they rebrand them so who knows where they came from. Auber Instruments has them and they look much higher quality but they are $20-30 and if it's something else I'd rather not blow them too. Thanks
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Tungsten
Joined: 06 Dec 2014 Posts: 318 Location: Buffalo, NY
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Link Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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What brand SSR was it?
Really hard to tell without seeing your setup if anything's wrong, but there aren't a lot of things that could go wrong. Are the SSRs flush with the heatsink? Did you use any thermal compound (I don't think it should matter much, but it would help).
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huaco
Joined: 05 Apr 2012 Posts: 1506 Location: Burleson Texas
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Link Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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I'd go with the Auber relays. Yeah, they are a bit pricey, but you've likely spent that much in time and money replacing your old ones.
I may be mistaken, but I believe the links here on the site only take you to the proper search results. Not any particular vendor selling a prescribed part.
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OldPikeBrewery
Joined: 12 Nov 2015 Posts: 7 Location: Holland, MI
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Link Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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Tungsten wrote: | What brand SSR was it?
Really hard to tell without seeing your setup if anything's wrong, but there aren't a lot of things that could go wrong. Are the SSRs flush with the heatsink? Did you use any thermal compound (I don't think it should matter much, but it would help). |
They are FOTEK SSR-40 DA
I have them mounted directly to the heat sink with thermo compound.
Funny thing is the boil gets used more and at full power and that one is still original.
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OldPikeBrewery
Joined: 12 Nov 2015 Posts: 7 Location: Holland, MI
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Link Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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huaco wrote: | I'd go with the Auber relays. Yeah, they are a bit pricey, but you've likely spent that much in time and money replacing your old ones.
I may be mistaken, but I believe the links here on the site only take you to the proper search results. Not any particular vendor selling a prescribed part. |
That is probably what I'll do, just trying to rule out a faulty PID or something funky.
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OldPikeBrewery
Joined: 12 Nov 2015 Posts: 7 Location: Holland, MI
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Link Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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Going to an 80 amp relay wouldn't help would it?
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Tungsten
Joined: 06 Dec 2014 Posts: 318 Location: Buffalo, NY
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Link Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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Foteks can be very, very hit-or-miss. Some people have great luck with them - others not so much.
There was recently a thread somewhere about some of them being fraudulently made somewhere in China (with a link to the UL website) but I can't remember if it was here or over at HBT.
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OldPikeBrewery
Joined: 12 Nov 2015 Posts: 7 Location: Holland, MI
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Link Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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Just ordered the Auber ones, I'll try to remember to post back after a couple of brew days. Thanks for the help
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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OldPikeBrewery
Joined: 12 Nov 2015 Posts: 7 Location: Holland, MI
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Link Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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kal wrote: | OldPikeBrewery wrote: | I have them mounted directly to the heat sink with thermo compound. |
Not too much? You need to use just enough to fill gaps. Spread a tiny amount evenly, squish the two parts together, then pull apart to make sure that there's no air gaps.
Also make sure to have the heat sink outside the panel. It needs air flow. (Sorry if this is obvious).
Kal |
Thermo compound looks good, even after they blow. It's exactly like the electric brewery's. Heat sink mounted outside on top with ssr's mounted directly to the heat sink a few inches apart. I'll see if I can get pics later.
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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Paulusatp
Joined: 23 Nov 2015 Posts: 5
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Link Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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The Fotek issues are ubiquitous on the Internet. Luckily mine failed during the cleaning cycle and not in the midst of brewing. I just ordered an Auber Instruments 40 Amp SSR. I will keep you all posted.
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OldPikeBrewery
Joined: 12 Nov 2015 Posts: 7 Location: Holland, MI
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Link Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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UPDATE: 4 batches in and no issues with the Auber Instrument SSRs. I did 3 back to back batches really giving them a work out and it was all good. I'm assuming the cheap relays were the culprit. Thanks for the help to all! I will report back if one fails but it's looking up!
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Paulusatp
Joined: 23 Nov 2015 Posts: 5
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Link Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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I installed an Auber SSR (40A)
I did two batches and a subsequent cleaning cycle: it's still working.
Go Auber.
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Lakeside
Joined: 14 Dec 2015 Posts: 2 Location: Atlanta Metro
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Link Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 4:35 am Post subject: |
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Silly question but how did you know they blew other than the obvious the Heating Element would not fire?
Did you let the Smoke Out or nice burning plastic smell?
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Paulusatp
Joined: 23 Nov 2015 Posts: 5
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Link Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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The LED stopped lighting up.
I took the SSR out, and bench tested it with a multimeter and a 9V battery. As control I used a similar relay and subjected it to the same test. That one worked.
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Lakeside
Joined: 14 Dec 2015 Posts: 2 Location: Atlanta Metro
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Link Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Ah good ole trial and error when the Blinky Light stopped blinking.
I've never worked with SSR and PID's until lately.
I know quite a bit about Mechanical Relays etc, hence my question.
Thanks
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Paulusatp
Joined: 23 Nov 2015 Posts: 5
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Link Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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Same here. It's a rather quick learning curve though, and my frugality bit me (again). I will avoid buying Chinese (except for the food).
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Mike614
Joined: 04 Jan 2016 Posts: 6 Location: Columbus, OH
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