Heat Treat oven help

Joined
Jun 27, 2016
Messages
302
Ok so I am building a 240v oven, and I've onto the wiring. I'm using the schematic from this post, https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/heat-treat-oven-wiring-schematic.985651/(ive also atached the pdf here).

tM4q5L3.png


I have a few questions.
1. are the LEDs 12-24 volt or does the main power one need to be 240v?
2. does the coil/door limit switch need to be rated for 15 amps or just 1 amp? I'm thinking 1 amp
3. is the red wire 18-24ga signal wire or 10ga wire? I'm thinking 18-24ga
 
Is your pid 120v or 240v? If 120v you will need to use one leg and neutral (not ground) not both hots to power it so it is using 120v not 240v. Your 240v line from your breaker box should have 2 hots a neutral an a ground.

Thankfully I have a son that is an electrician that will be helping me to build mine, I have everything I need to build it, and a 240v cut off panel with 2 fuses, 2 hots, a ground and neutral. I am pretty sure the only thing that should run 240v is just the heating coils, everything else should be 120v. At least that is how mine will be built.
 
1/ The main power LED needs to be 240V in that configuration. I would consider it optional: if there is no power there, the display on the PID controller will not light up.

The Heat LED needs to be 12-24V (assuming the output Voltage from the controller is within that range). Again, I would be inclined to consider this LED optional. Most PID controllers have an LED on the front to show when the output is on. Most PID controllers also have a limited output current. It is always enough (IME) to drive a single SSR and is usually enough to drive 2 SSRs. If you are going to be driving 2 SSRs and the LED in parallel, check the specs for the components and make sure the PID controller can provide the power needed. I prefer to put a 240V LED in parallel with the elements. With a 2-second output cycle time, it is pretty easy to get an idea of the output from across the shop. It can also help with diagnostics: by accident I found that if the output goes open-circuit, the LED will illuminate continuously at reduced output, due to the SSR leakage current.

2/ The toggle switch and door switch need to be rated for at least the PID controller output maximum current, which you will have checked above: probably no more than 100 mA, so a 1A switch is ample.

3/ The red wire is carrying the current mentioned in 1/ and 2/ above. The signal wire will be fine. Personally, I'd go for 18 ga over 24 ga because it's a lot less finicky to deal with for those who are more comfortable with mechanical stuff than with electrical stuff.

In the past, I have had a 240V (UK mains Voltage) belt from a circuit that was still powered because the SSR had failed "closed". It was obviously non-fatal, mainly thanks to the RCD (GFCI for the Americans) but it was both memorable and painful. I have grave reservations about the use of door switches, or any other safety switch, being used on the control input side of the SSR.
 
What Tim said.

I would only add that both incoming lines should be fused if the PID is running off 240V.
 
Back
Top