New hot box and heat cycle test.

[T Folts]

So I decided to build a new hot box that would be more efficient and serve as a base for my new torsion table top. So the interior is about 24" square and 64" long. ( I make takedowns). I lined the inside with sheet steel and put a space heater in it. I used a digital controller used for beer brewing called STC-1000. The box will heat up to 180 deg F in 16 minutes. I put 4 bamboo lambs in the form and in the center I place a wire thermal sensor end in the middle of the four. Start temp was 60F and raise to 100F in 26 minutes, it took 2hr and 9min to get to 160F where it is at right now. I plan on leaving it in the box for 30 minutes then turning it off. I might play with the settings later and drop the set point down after it reaches the 160F but that will have to be another day. So this box will do its job in just over 2 1/2 hrs. Better than 5 hrs I did with the old box. I'll try and get some pics up in a few days just out of time right now.
I made up matching forms so I can do both limbs at a time now. 2 limbs in 2 1/2 hrs not bad.

Peace
Terry

[canopyboy]

Terry,

I used the STC-1000 as well, it does everything I want and was cheap.  But the sensor with it is definitely off for me, it reads lower than multiple calibrated thermometers.  It's not a big deal, I just used a good thermometer to figure out the correct set point and go from there.  Did you have a similar experience, or is your sensor accurate?  Or better yet, do you have a good replacement sensor option?

Interesting the time to get up to temperature between the lams.  Is that in a form, or just the four lams by themselves?

[T Folts]

That was in the form under pressure. I will run a test in a few minutes for calibration. I know the thermometer for liquid emersion are not accurate for air temp,  be careful with that as they all could equally show higher temps. I did that comparing to the snap disc that binghams sell and is supposed to shut off at 180 and the thermometers showed 220. I'll post results in a little while, the wire sensor is very accurate.

[goobersan]

sounds like a good system and improvement. You probably still want a slow cool-down. Any pics ?