Building a kiln controller

If you want all elements to operate, "as one", all off or all on, then what I have in mine is one relay per element, but all the relays run on one controller.

Bet Jack chimes in here any minute, and I certainly would follow his recommendations, he has done it successfully.

I use a Perfect Fire which operate 3 relays with two contacts each , so it can switch 6 times 25 Amp Bought this in New Zealand , controller , probe and relay end wiring Works great

I question whether this is appropriate - it seems to offer features you don't need and seems inadequate in what you do need. The specification .pdf file says Control Output: 5 Vdc drive @ 50 mA max (internal 5 Vdc source)

This means that you will have to use 5 volt driven relays. The size that will carry your amperage may pull enough milliamps that if you want to double up relays to get capacity that you will exceed the 50ma. You may have to buy a small 5VDC relay from Radio Shack (fortunately the 5 v supply is in the controller) just to drive the contactors or bigger relays. The contactors Omega sells seem to have 120 or 240 volt coils, so an intermediate relay would be require.

that looks like it would do anything a fuser needs.

I am working on a computer based unit, I have it running now in, HOLD ON, dos.

yes folks a dos batch file (showing my age.) I have a board that works off the parallel port that has 12 relays.

I have a USB unit that will ultimately run up to five kilns at once with 2 type thermocouples in each and up to 196 relays.

not so, lots of relays would run off of that voltage. I found a relay that runs off the voltage in a parallel port!!!

but an intermediate relay is no big deal either

Ya I tried contacting them was a route I was considering still have not gotten an e-mail

And it looks like if I can use the omega it will be cheaper

good point

what would you recommend? Basically all I want is a simple interface with mechanical relays. as long as it can hold one multi segment ramp program I would be happy.

I drive my controllers with a CAL9500P through an SSR. Works great.

Jack

You're making this way too complicated. When you order a controller, you order it with the board to drive the type of relay you want to use. If you want to use mechanicals, AKA clickers, order a simple relay board and clickers with 120 or 240 volt coils.

Jack

An output can control more than one relay but I'm not sure why you would want to have more than one.

Jack

How much?

Jack

This is strange liam. Why do you want to try to run a 100A kiln on a 30 amp circuit? Sounds like you're trying to run one element at a time. Not trying to be a smart ass here, but I'm working on this round thing. Think I'll call it a wheel. It's gonna be a big hit. Maybe I am trying to be a smart ass. Seems like you're going about things in a complicated manner.:)

Jack

liam

It looks like your controller of choice doesn't come in a K tc model.

Jack

maybe I am confused but I assumed one relay per element ?

Here is the deal I have a cress c-20-l its 240 30 amp kiln with four elements and three manual controls one control is hooked up to two elements the middle ones. Excuse my ignorance but I figured if each element is 240vac

25 amps I would want to avoid having all the elements on at the same time. So once again I assumed I would need a relay per element to avoid having all the elements on at the same time. I do agree I may be way over complicating things if I am please suggest a better route.

Looking like $200 at this point but hell by the time I get done with it and all the frustration it might not be worth it. I am still not able to get them to reply to an e-mail

I see that now the selection page before that states it does.