Making one’s own universal PID temperature controller

Bread and Ammo posts an extensive article on a homemade universal PID temperature controller.

From Wikipedia:

A proportional–integral–derivative controller (PID controller or three-term controller) is a control loop mechanism employing feedback that is widely used in industrial control systems and a variety of other applications requiring continuously modulated control.

In practical terms it automatically applies an accurate and responsive correction to a control function. An everyday example is the cruise control on a car, where ascending a hill would lower speed if only constant engine power were applied. The controller’s PID algorithm restores the measured speed to the desired speed with minimal delay and overshoot by increasing the power output of the engine.

Universal PID Features

• Inexpensive PID Controller

• 40 Amp Solid State Relay with heat-sink

• Master On/Off Switch

• Universal Thermocouple Jack

• Duplex 110V Receptacle

• Fuse Holder

• AC Input Jack

I prefer the 110V input jack as it allows me to keep a cord plugged in near the locations I use the controller. I simply unplug all connections and move the controller to the new location with minimal effort.

This allows me to use the controller for all kinds of projects.

I can use the controller for everything from proofing to dehydration.

You can see all the details here.