Electrical question for my rims control panel

[Cxp073]

Hello everyone

I am making a basic rims control panel tomorrow and need some help. It is going to use a sestos PID, PT100 probe, and a 40amp SSR.

I was thinking about adding a large neon indicator light on the panel to indicate when the element is on (a 3kw element). If I wanted to do this, do I just connect it across the live and neutral wires after the relay but before the element?

Thanks!

[Wonkydonkey]

I went for a amp metre, then I could see what power was being used, I think the SSR switches on and off very quickly when it gets near to temp. I don't if your light will like being switched on/off

I'm sure someone will come along soon, and tell you the way they have done it.

Wonky

[themadhippy]

I don't if your light will like being switched on/off

neons are always being switched on and off rather rapidly.about 100 times every second in the uk and still manage to have a rather long life, the biggest hassle with neons and ssrs is bleed current,so the neon may glow even when the pid is saying its off.as for wiring them in ,there just connected at the same point as the element,so live in on one side of the ssr,the other terminal of the ssr is the live to the element and neon and the neutral goes straight to the other side of the element and neon

[Cxp073]

Thanks hippy - I never though of the frequency (on/off) so have decided to eliminate the light. It's a very basic system I am designing so I don't think it's needed.

I'll post pics when in done - just spent a fortune on random stuff at maplins is hopefully I will have it finished this weekend!

[themadhippy]

just spent a fortune on random stuff at maplins

ARGH ,there ok in extreme emergency’s but bloody expensive,unlike when they first started as mail order only even there first shops were good, now there a joke mostly staffed by people who aint got a clue and try and sell you the most expensive option . I tend to use cpc for non urgent stuff ,free p+p for orders over a tenner and a massive range of goodies to tempt you.

[LeeH]

I used an 24VDC LED in parallel across the control output of the controller on my old rig. So it illuminated when the controller called for heat.

[Fil]

fwiw i fitted a neon on the ssr output using a sestos pid and fortek ssr, the lil bleeder was flickering all the time when off, and i then noticed the 'on' red led on the sestos box itself DOH!!!!