Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

has anyone created a 3 phase voltage controller?
I have 3 phase in the shed and figured hooking up into the 3 phase plug for my welder would net me a heap of power available.
I just need to get a 3 phase element
I was wondering if I could set it to on to heat up then switch it to the controller mode when its hot.
I cant find any VA SSR's for 3 phase but can find standard SSR's
Is there any way to hook them up to a potentiometer? I don't want to PID it turning it off and on based on temps rather just slow the boil down.

I think you want a ssr with a frequency control circuit rather then an amperage control circuit. Then match the frequency to a potentionmeter. Look for a potentionmeter with an earth tab for the control dial. Simply continuity test will pinpoint the earth tab.

https://www.mashtobrew.com.au/

Have 3phase stuff

You wont find a 3 phase heater because it does not exist. For you purpose think of it as 3 individual single phase connections. Be very careful ie don't do it yourself as

1: it dangerous,
2: not by the rules,
3: phase to phase faults will pull thousands of amps in fault current and certainly will / should take out your pole fuses and or cause havoc in your wiring / house / installation.

It is possible and you will have 3 by 2.4kW heating elements using 3 of the single phase controllers, a single 3 phase controller will work this way too to maintain a balanced load. How big and what are the heating losses involved?

Its a little more complicated than you think it is but quite logical all the same.

In order to get single phase from a 3 phase supply one just taps a phase and uses the neutral wire, this will give you a single phase output with plenty of grunt to power a heating element. Now make sure you get a sparkie to do the work as this is advanced stuff and NOT for the average Joe. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Put in a massive 3ph element or 2-3 smaller ones and then fine tune running the still with with a regular 240v one?

No huge controller cost then, the 6kw elements I bought can be run as either 3x 2000w 240v loops or bridged up to 6000w 3ph. They make them up to 12kw, still going to need that sparky though.

The more spread out the heat sources are, the more efficient the boiler, this the other reason they make ULWD elements (not just anti scorch)

A good PID can be made to hit a power level instead of a temp.

RuddyCrazy wrote:In order to get single phase from a 3 phase supply one just taps a phase and uses the neutral wire, this will give you a single phase output with plenty of grunt to power a heating element. Now make sure you get a sparkie to do the work as this is advanced stuff and NOT for the average Joe. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

thought about that but the neutral wire isn't capable of running 3 single phase elements.

electrician is not problem. he loves my spirits

RC Al wrote:Put in a massive 3ph element or 2-3 smaller ones and then fine tune running the still with with a regular 240v one?

No huge controller cost then, the 6kw elements I bought can be run as either 3x 2000w 240v loops or bridged up to 6000w 3ph. They make them up to 12kw, still going to need that sparky though.

The more spread out the heat sources are, the more efficient the boiler, this the other reason they make ULWD elements (not just anti scorch)

A good PID can be made to hit a power level instead of a temp.

was thinking of using it to heat up then change down to the single phase stuff but if it could all be in one then was looking to go that route. saves having cords running to all places in the shed or wiring a point where I run and then don't have multiple elements in the boiler too.

B-Man wrote:

RuddyCrazy wrote:the neutral wire isn't capable of running 3 single phase elements.

Not speaking about your tradesman but the neutral MUST be capable of running the 3 phases, this is how it all works. Current from each phase returns via the neutral in a 3 phase 4 wire MEN connection. Get the wring checked or ask the sparkie.

chipboy wrote:

B-Man wrote:

RuddyCrazy wrote:the neutral wire isn't capable of running 3 single phase elements.

Not speaking about your tradesman but the neutral MUST be capable of running the 3 phases, this is how it all works. Current from each phase returns via the neutral in a 3 phase 4 wire MEN connection. Get the wring checked or ask the sparkie.

I have a 20a socket. Run in 2.5mm2
All phase wires are 2.5mm2 and so is the neutral.
I don't know about you but I can't see the neutral taking 60a

At a take off point for a one of the three / single phase output this would be correct, from the board back it will be different or on a 3 phase outlet. BE elec.