Fotek SSR Failure

[Kevin Wood]

I've built myself a 2 channel PID controller with a view to using one channel for the HLT and a second for a HERMS/RIMS setup in the future. One channel has been extensively used during testing and it controlled the HLT during my recent AG#1 brew without missing a beat.

I came to experiment with the second channel. I can't recall if I ever did any testing with this channel before. I probably checked it would light a bulb, but it's probably never been connected to an element.

Plugged in a cheap supermarket kettle and Bzzzzzt! then the smell of the magic smoke escaping from electronics.

Seems like my SSR isn't too happy with life.

There's nothing wrong with the circuit, the element connected takes 10 Amps and it's a 25A SSR. In fact, I came across some Opto22 SSRs on Ebay, so have replaced the offending SSR with one of those and everything works fine now.

It seems I got a dodgy SSR. I just wonder if this is a common occurrence with these cheap SSRs or was I just unlucky?

 

[tazuk]

yes i hade once was faulty it was a direct short trip juice out got a new one all sweet now :thumb:

 

[Mark1964]

Thats why when i bought ours i bought 4 saves shopping around again

 

[Kevin Wood]

Oh, well, looks like I was unlucky. I guess it is prudent to have a couple of spares.

The Opto22 ones seem much better quality, at least as far as their construction is concerned. Worth keeping an eye out for on Ebay.

 

[evanvine]

Bzzzzzt! then the smell of the magic smoke escaping from electronics.

What a brilliant description!!!

 

[screamlead]

Damn! i got two of those too, not even tried them yet. Is there a way of testing them before sticking in an enclosure? Or something going Bzzzzzzt!!!!!!!!! :grin:

 

[Kevin Wood]

Damn! i got two of those too, not even tried them yet. Is there a way of testing them before sticking in an enclosure? Or something going Bzzzzzzt!!!!!!!!! :grin:

They seem widely used among folk on here and the lack of response here suggests I've just been unlucky with this one, so I'm sure you'll be fine. :thumb:

As regards testing them, if they're going to fail in this way, it's probably only going to be at full mains voltage and pulling a decent amount of current, so I'd say it would be difficult to jury-rig something to test them without compromising electrical safety. Best to build it into a proper enclosure and test there, in my opinion.

I'd say it would be good practice to design your enclosure so that they can be swapped reasonably easily if they do fail, though.