PID Controller Enclosure Questions

[k1100t]

So, Sunday saw me "finish" my HLT controller. The face plate is a complete mess, cutting the apertures was a nightmare. At one point, a hammer and chisel may have been involved. I'm chalking this one up to experience, and will try and source replacement aluminium plates for the front and back. Anyway, the eagle eyed, will already have spotted what I did wrong, as when I flicked the red switch to engage the SSR, it blew the switch, the fuse in the plug and the RCD in the main fuse box.



I should've known though, as it's exactly what I did four years ago when I fried my shed electrics and took down multiple rings in the house. You'd have thought I'd have learned how to wire a switch in the intervening years...

So...

I've grounded the back panel, do I need to ground the front panel too?

Those rocker switches are naff, does anyone have a link to a 240v rotary switch like you see used on all the fancy control panels...?

[guypettigrew]

Would one of these, or one of these suit?

Guy

[themadhippy]

You wired the switch as a fuse tester

The face plate is a complete mess, cutting the apertures was a nightmare

could you get away with a plastic plate to hide the mess,have a look on ebay for PID Bracket.

do I need to ground the front panel too

looks like a plastic box between the 2 metal plates,so best to.

Those rocker switches are naff, does anyone have a link to a 240v rotary switch like you see used on all the fancy control panels...?

Either ebay if you trust them to be rated for what they claim,or somewere like rs components, RS Stock No. 103-8437 for example.

[guypettigrew]

You wired the switch as a fuse tester

A wonderful phrase, worth remembering!

Guy

[k1100t]

Would one of these, or one of these suit?

The first one does have a high enough current rating. I briefly considered round rockers, but for some reason like the look of the fancy rotary ones that you see on the fancy control panels. Must be something to do with them being fancy...

You wired the switch as a fuse tester

Yup...
It might have helped if my multimeter hadn't died, then at least I could've checked continuity and saved a couple of fuses...

could you get away with a plastic plate to hide the mess,have a look on ebay for PID Bracket.

I didn't know such things existed, you learn something new everyday.

do I need to ground the front panel too

looks like a plastic box between the 2 metal plates,so best to.

Cool, I thought I might have to, but wasn't sure.

Either ebay if you trust them to be rated for what they claim,or somewere like rs components, RS Stock No. 103-8437 for example.

I've been looking on RS, but they have such a range, it's sometime difficult to see the wood for the trees.

Thanks!