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Biodiesel => Biodiesel equipment => Topic started by: therecklessengineer on August 20, 2013, 09:09:54 AM

Title: My new control panel
Post by: therecklessengineer on August 20, 2013, 09:09:54 AM
Made from scavenged bits of industrial hardware!

(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o231/jamesmorfee/20130820_092116.jpg) (http://s121.photobucket.com/user/jamesmorfee/media/20130820_092116.jpg.html)

(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o231/jamesmorfee/IMG_20130807_145158.jpg) (http://s121.photobucket.com/user/jamesmorfee/media/IMG_20130807_145158.jpg.html)

4 contactors driving two heaters and two pumps. Individual double pole breakers, and a BIG switch.

The control side runs at 24V bringing in the contactors on demand. On the heaters, the PID controller will inhibit the contactor if the controller is in alarm - so if the SSR fails closed circuit, the contactor will come out and stop the heater.Washing machine pressure switches will also inhbit the heater.

The VFD for the processor pump is mounted elsewhere, so there are no controls for that on the panel (yet).

I managed to keep the original ammeter on the front - it was originally 0-200A, but I wrapped the current transformer 10 times so it reads over by 10x (i.e. it reads 100A for 10A). I'm not convinced by how accurate it is, but it gives a clue as to how much power the plant is drawing.

Further plans include controls for the VFD, a flashing siren if something goes into alarm (over temperature, low level etc), and a switch/light for the condenser cooling pump. And perhaps some kind of internet integration. a.ninja.is (http://a.ninja.is) is something I'm using for a few other things around the home, extending it to the plant wouldn't be too hard.
Title: Re: My new control panel
Post by: willbuild on August 20, 2013, 09:21:06 AM
10 out of 10. just goes to show what you can scavenge
Title: Re: My new control panel
Post by: Tony on August 20, 2013, 09:27:30 AM
Looks good :)
Title: Re: My new control panel
Post by: Rotary-Motion on August 20, 2013, 09:14:15 PM
neat tidy job love it...

 :)
Title: Re: My new control panel
Post by: kamaangir on August 20, 2013, 09:17:19 PM
That is a cool looking CP, I am hoping that mine will be something like yours! ;D
Title: Re: My new control panel
Post by: julesandtash on August 20, 2013, 09:29:11 PM
Mine is  :)

(http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/julesandtash/Biodiesel/IMG_20130315_105508_zps51812485.jpg) (http://s471.photobucket.com/user/julesandtash/media/Biodiesel/IMG_20130315_105508_zps51812485.jpg.html)

(http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/julesandtash/Biodiesel/IMG_20130315_105559_zps4808fc91.jpg) (http://s471.photobucket.com/user/julesandtash/media/Biodiesel/IMG_20130315_105559_zps4808fc91.jpg.html)

(http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/julesandtash/Biodiesel/IMG_20130315_105533_zps5074a6d1.jpg) (http://s471.photobucket.com/user/julesandtash/media/Biodiesel/IMG_20130315_105533_zps5074a6d1.jpg.html)

Nice job there James. Are you going to integrate the Lister controls and generator monitoring into it as well?

Title: Re: My new control panel
Post by: therecklessengineer on August 21, 2013, 06:50:34 PM
Outdone by jules! Very nice indeed - I'll have to get a few more lights and switches to complete with that!

I'm actually going to move the Lister - she's going to live outside my workshop and provide heating/electricity to that instead, and the boiler which currently heats the workshop will live in the plant room and heat the oil for reaction.
Title: Re: My new control panel
Post by: Jamesrl on August 21, 2013, 08:31:35 PM
I gotta better one than all those above, a 4 plug extension.

So there, see if l care.