Relays - Controlling voltage flowing for heater elements to maintain temperature

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around controlling the voltage supplied to heater elements in order to maintain a stable temperature in water, specifically using a UT130 Temperature Controller and an SSR relay. Participants explore methods to reduce temperature fluctuations and improve temperature stability.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the issue of temperature fluctuations causing the relay to turn on and off continuously, seeking a relay that can modulate voltage rather than simply switching on and off.
  • Another participant suggests using PID temperature control as a software solution to improve temperature stability.
  • A different participant proposes implementing a dead band strategy to manage temperature control by setting specific on and off temperature thresholds.
  • One participant mentions that the UT130 controller has capabilities for PID control and suggests learning to navigate its settings, including self-tuning features.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about whether PID control alone is sufficient for maintaining stable temperature, indicating a lack of consensus on this point.
  • One participant asserts that PID controllers inherently manage the modulation of power to achieve temperature control.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effectiveness of PID control for maintaining stable temperature, with some suggesting it should suffice while others remain skeptical. There is no consensus on the availability of relays that can modulate voltage as described.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the need for a basic understanding of PID control and the specific capabilities of the UT130 controller, indicating potential limitations in knowledge or experience with the equipment.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in temperature control systems, particularly those working with PID controllers and relay configurations in heating applications.

Etude
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So I have a UT130 Temperature Controller turning on and off a heater element through a SSR relay to maintain the temperature of water at a constant temperature. But the problem is that the temperature will still fluctuate making the relay go on and off continuously. I need the water to stay at the set temperature and not rise and fall around the set point.

Right now, the relay turns on (and so the heater) when the temperature falls below 100 and vice versa. Is there any kind of relay that allows me to control the voltage flowing through it? As in: while heating up, as the temperature gets closer to the set point, the voltage flowing through the relay and heater decrease in some ratio (i.e. the relay doesn't turn on and shut off completely) so that the temperature doesn't rise above the set point and so hopefully gives a more stable temperature? I tried searching but can't seem to find one!
 
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google PID temperature control

It is software more then hardware.

You may be able to get good enough temperature control just set up a dead band. So if you want 90C water set the heaters to turn on at 85C and off at 95C. These are just numbers pulled from the air, set the set point and width of the dead band as you need.
 
Just googled your controller. It can do what you need. However the manual is very cryptic. If this is your first controller, good luck.

Study the manual, learn to navigate the menus of your controller.

You will need to have a basic understanding of PID control to get anywhere, so will need to be reading and understanding PID control at the same time you learn to run the controller.

You need to get to the self tuning setting and trigger self tuning. Once that is done your controller should do fine. If you have the supporting hardware set up correctly.
 
Hi Integral.
Yup I saw the PID control and that it auto tunes.
So is that enough for maintaining stable temperature? I thought that the PID control should be enough but this guy with me doesn't seem to think so. :P
Well, thank you, I guess I ll just set the whole thing up and see who it works.
For curiosity, are such relays available?
Thanks for your help!
 
Not to my knowledge, this is what PID controllers do.
 
Okies! Thanx a lot again! :)
 

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