Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

[Bondo]

Hi Guys,... I need a Switch,... Not just any switch though...

I'm lookin' for a 120v, oh say 5 amp switch that'll stay "On" for a set time, 'n then turn off, til energized again at another time...
An adjustable run time would be nice,... lookin' fer 'bout 15 minutes per cycle...

I'm findin' alota twist timers, but nothing that'll run from bein' energized, electrically...

Anybody got any Ideas,..??

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

What you need is what is called a delay on make timer. Usually adjustable to 10 minuets. Use a momentary switch, when flipped on, it makes the timer (switch on) for your preset time. Grainger carries them. It is a little black square box about inch an half by about half inch thick with a red knob in the center for adjustment.

Go into electrical and search "Delay on Make" the item will pop up

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

If its what i am thinking those don't handle amperage really well(1.5amp max)...Are you trying to make something that you can manually start, then will stay on for a certain amount of time???

what you need is a holding relay...What I did on my compressor is put a 30a 24v contactor, a 40va 24v transformer and a spring return dial timer that goes for an hour...I paralleled a toggle switch with the contacts so I can toggle it on for good or turn the dial to a time and it will shut off...I also put some status lights red for powered but not running and a green for its running...

 

[no704]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Omega makes a varity of units like this. check out their website or mcmaster-carr has lots. Be ready to drop $40 to $100 bucks though.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Ayuh,... I found the 1 at Grainger last night, the only 1 they offer,...
I believe yer right acguy, it's like an amp, 'n 1/2...
I need to run a draft inducer on my self-engineered outdoor woodboiler...

The circuit lay-out is,..
Aqua-stat kicks on at low-set temp, draft door is opened by a 1/4 turn A/C actuator...
I wanta turn on the fan, when the draft opens, 'n shut it off in 15 minutes or so, 'n let the boiler's natural draft take over...
Automatically of course...
I'm doin' it with switches now, as the fan on always makes her run Too Hot, Too Quickly...
Faster than I'm movin' the water...

I've run it since last Christmas, with the natural draft, it's works Great...
I'm just tryin' to clean up the restarts by inducin' draft...

It's my steppin' stone to a woodChip boiler...
As in woodchips from a tree service, into a silo, augered into the boiler, 'n burnt fer Heat, Free Heat...
Automatically of course,...

I'll google up the leads you offered 704, Thanks...

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Rubber bands, paper clip, a garden hose a swiss army knife and some Duct tape oh yeah and somer help from Mac!!! to make it work!!

Simple and all in under 2 minutes!!

 

[MarkySparky]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Bond-o, that time delay relay is also available at Platt Electric or CED and some others- I'd also check with your local HVAC supplier. They shouldn't be as expensive as $100. I'd say around $50-60 or so. Also, if you can get one with multiple sets of contacts, you can parallel the contacts with jumpers to double the current rating. They are also available in several wide ranges of time settings.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Actually....... did you install a dump zone for all that heat?

 

[no704]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Or check out a Johnson Contols A419. Same kind of deal-but trips off a thermocouple.

 

[rbh]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Goin out on a limb on this one, "BUT", are not the burner drafts for boilers, controled with some kind of a thermastat/pyromiter/sender thingy??
(Temp in the box cools, sender closes circuit and opens draft, back up to operating temp, draft closes??)

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Ayuh,... I found the 1 at Grainger last night, the only 1 they offer,...

You happen to have a part number for that? I need something like that to run a water pump for 5 minutes.

 

[CatTwentyTwo]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

You happen to have a part number for that? I need something like that to run a water pump for 5 minutes.

I don't know how to link to the page, but go to the Grainger site and search for item 5WMJ9. I think that is what you guys are looking for. Or 6CXD5 set for interval if you want it to turn off with voltage still applied to the coil of the timer.

 

[Don S]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Have the low amp switch you can find, control a relay not the unit.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

When I need a weird timer, I use a 555 (ic) timer circuit and a relay. You could use the amp and a halfer and a relay also. Here's a 3 amper on eBay that would probably do well.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/140596508138

There's pretty neat digital versions on eBay also for about 20 bucks.

Sounds like you ought to go with a PLC and a few relays. I've got a dozen cradle relays in my boiler logic and still am not quite satisfied with the system. Gonna go PLC first chance I get (read that round tuit)

Right now I have a solenoid valve to dump water from the hot water heat exchanger down the grey water drain if things get over 225 degrees in the boiler. In the winter, I just use the main heating circuit as the dump zone.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

The PLC would be the fun way to go for me...but if you want to use the delay timer you can do this if your aquastat contact rating is high enough to carry the load of the draft blower. Go to grainger and get time delay relay #6CUV8 and socket and run the hot output from the aquastat to terminals 1&2 (jumper them together)on the relay and use terminal #4 to feed power to the blower. Be sure to wire a neutral to terminal#7. This is wired as a normally closed contact and after the preset delay the relay will energise and open the contact. This relay is $41.55 and is rated at 10 amps.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

All you really need is a aqua stat with a adjustable cut in and cut out...Close on a fall switch with a cut out of 140 degrees and a cut in at 120(numbers are arbitrary) and it will cycle between the cut in and cut out temp...Set it and forget it...

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/HONEYWELL-Aquastat-Controller-2GZK3

 

[Bondo]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

You happen to have a part number for that? I need something like that to run a water pump for 5 minutes.

Ayuh,... This is the 1 I found Bruce,....
It delays the start,...
I'm gonna need to use a relay, so it starts at the start, 'n stops when the delay turns on...

lotsa Ideas here guys,...
Gonna have to do somemore diggin'...
It's pass my bedtime now, 'n I gotta sort out turnin' the power Off, so's it's really turnin' On,...

Already got the aqua-stat, tryin' to split it's functions...

Oh, 'n either blower I choose, is under an amp...

 

[bigdee]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Bond-o, I used to design automation equipment and have experience as a control systems integrator.....if you use the relay that I mentioned in post #15 you will not need an additional relay. The one that you found will work as a pilot device to slave a relay but that adds more complexity and those timer cubes are not that reliable. If you want to go 1st class explain to me your concept and sequence of operation and I would be more than happy to design a PLC based system.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

Bond-o, I used to design automation equipment and have experience as a control systems integrator.....if you use the relay that I mentioned in post #15 you will not need an additional relay. The one that you found will work as a pilot device to slave a relay but that adds more complexity and those timer cubes are not that reliable. If you want to go 1st class explain to me your concept and sequence of operation and I would be more than happy to design a PLC based system.

Ayuh,... It's yer post, #15, that I was pokin' fun at, makin' it turn On, when turned Off...

The aqua-stat will handle the amps alright,...
I love yer Idea, I just like the prices of j_martin's link...
Under $15. bucks, with the base, 4PDT...

Gettin' ready for work right now, I'll be thinkin' 'bout it all day,...

The plan is for the aqua-stat to power up, to the draft(as it does now), 'n blower, then the blower turnin' off after 15 minutes, the draft staying powered til the hi-limit, when the aqua-stat turns it off...
At low-limit,the process should start again, exactly the same each time...

 

[j_martin]

Re: Ayuh,... I need a switch, 'n don't know where to look....

I've been burning wood for 40 years, about 30 of them with well controlled appliances. It's still wood, and different woods have different properties. The trick is to stack the stove depending on the expected load and load duration. If you go at it with a mind for learning, it only takes a couple of years to get the hang of it.

I've gotten so I can fire the boiler with scrap pine in the summer, heat up the hot water tank, and have just the right residual heat and coals left in the boiler to top it off the water heater after a shower or two. Just in case, it'll dump hot water down the drain if it gets unreasonably hot. Haven't lost any boiler water through the pressure release yet.

My boiler, furnace and water heater control set looks like the inside of an old time pinball machine.