Stir plate build

[pads72]

Another stir plate build thread, here's what I went for:

Casing was from my local angling shop, £2.75
Fan from scan.co.uk was a 120mm Xclio 256 Colour LED. £11 incl postage. It was the cheapest one with built in potentiometer, but I don't think I'll be needing the 256 different LED settings
Cheap 12v adapter bought off eBay for £3
Green LED round rocker switch from thetoolbox.com for £5
Conical 2L flask and x3 different stir bars from camlab.co.uk £17.50
x4 Magnets from powermagnetstore.com D10 x 5mm Disc - Grade N38 £6
Tools, Nuts & bolts and crimp terminals I already had

Took inspiration and advice from various threads on here, but also from http://canadrian.com/2012/08/29/stir-plate-build/ whose wiring diagram was best suited to my build.

Hole for rocker switch with Q-max cutter


Cutting off the 12v adapter jack and trimming some of the lead off


Went for attaching the fan from below, so this shows the M5 bolts used.


Magnets super glued to the fan, dot on one signifies polarity


Potentiometer and LED buttons in place


Wired up


Test run working well.


I found the 25mm pivot ring stir bar rattled and was thrown off the centre, but the 25mm triangular stir bar was silent and worked well, providing the vortex did not reach down to the bar, as it would throw it off.

All in all, happy with the build, the missus doesn't think it's ugly so I may get away with leaving it in the kitchen (not switched on the flashing LEDs yet tho!)

[Fil]

very tidy job,, is the hub of the 120mm fan significantly bigger than the 80mm jobs? i checked out a few fans and all seemed to have a similar hub size so to spread my magnets out a bit wider i used a big brass washer glued to the hub. on reflection a small form cd would have been a lot lighter

[steambrew]

Looks a good job very neat, what should one be looking for on the stir bar as I have all the parts lying around from other projects apart from a bar ? Any help on this

[Evanvine]

Or you can build a Heath-Robinson version like this:-

[pads72]

Free fan! I had complained to scan.co.uk about the computer mounting screws being missing for the 120mm fan, so they sent me a whole new fan, which I don't need. If anyone wants it for a stir plate build, I'm happy to send it on - its a 120mm fan with built in potentiometer, with 256 different LED settings! Flashy
PM me

[gibbiem]

Free fan! I had complained to scan.co.uk about the computer mounting screws being missing for the 120mm fan, so they sent me a whole new fan, which I don't need. If anyone wants it for a stir plate build, I'm happy to send it on - its a 120mm fan with built in potentiometer, with 256 different LED settings! Flashy
PM me

Might take you up on this offer if you still have it? Where do you live?

[pads72]

Hi Gibbiem, Exmouth, Devon UK

[gibbiem]

You have an idea what postage would be?

[pads72]

Gibbiem, Don't worry about that, won't be much, PM me your address and I'll post it later in the week

[Fuzzy-felt]

pads72,

I like the idea of using this fan that comes with a potentiometer, and I might use the same fan. Would you mind letting me know what size the control box is please. Also how did you fix it within the project box. Does that yellow front plate come off, or did you just cut/bend the sticky-outy bit?

Thanks,
Mark.

[gibbiem]

Here's my attempt, bit rough but works!! Massive thanks to pads72 for the fan

[pads72]

Good stuff! Glad the spare got put to good use!

[LeeH]

Excuse my ignorance but what do you use these for? Apart from stirring!

[Fil]

the stirring helps aerate a starter

[LeeH]

Oh ok, not something I need then for kit brewing. Bugger, I thought I had another build project to do.