Official Luthiers Forum!

npalen,

PID controller? You MUST be an engineer.    Proportional, Integral Derivative for those of you who don't speak the language.

MattMatt H38960.3983680556

[QUOTE=charliewood] I have given my mandomaniac {Tom Durr} heatblanket with thermostat a few test runs - it works perfect!
It goes up to your pre-set temperature, then about 10degrees above then falls to about 10 degrees below, then 8 above 8 below 6 above/below until it finds the perfect temp! It was expensive at $325 USD but I got the quick connects and timer with it for that price.
so I can interchange blankets of any size quickly and easily.
I may have gotten one cheaper but for a newb like me being able to set the temp and timer is priceless - monitoring it would probably have been stressful for an inexperienced guy like me.
Good luck finding the right one for you.
cheers
Charliewood[/QUOTE]

I got plans from Tom. And built the unit with parts from E Bay. works like a charm.240v
   Mark

Matt--The PID, as you probably know, is really simply to connect between the blanket and the power source. I do use a solid state relay between the PID and the blanket as the PID can't handle the load.
Nelson

Grant,

if the cost of a stepdown transformer is prohibitive why not go a bit low tech and build a bender powered by light bulbs. See Jim William's book for rough plans. I can provide you with Australian sources of some of the parts required. I have one of these benders and it works fine but I rarely use it...mainly because for some reason I just love the old fashioned electric bending iron.