HELP! Wiring vacuum former

[tybrenis]

Hey guys. My vacuum former is almost complete, and today I tried it out for the first time. It worked okay, but here is the hold up:

I am using two electric grill type things as the heating elements. Each of them has it's own thermostat, so you can change the temperature from 200 - 400 degrees F. now, with two of them right next to each other, it presents a problem. As they reach the set temperature, with two of them, it goes up slightly higher. So, in an effort to regulate it's own temperature, each grill will shut itself off until the temperature returns to below the set temperature. This presents a major problem for me, with grills turning on and off all the time.

So what I have to do is this: I will set the grill to say 300 Degrees. It will shut off. I will then turn it up perhaps 25 degrees, and then the thermostat realizes that the current temperature of the grill is indeed below the set temperature, and will begin to heat again.

I need to: bi-pass the thermostat completely and wire the 120 line directly to the heating element so it doesn't keep shutting itself off. I was hoping you guys could help me with that. Here is the inside of the temp. control:

http://powerpackedpc.com/images/tbcs/controller.jpg

Sorry for the poor image.

If you observe the image, you can see on the left and right, there are two openings where the prongs from the heating element plug into the heating element. The prong on the top plugs into the grill, but doesn't touch the heating element. It looks like a ground, because it just goes straight into the metal grill. However, I find it strange that it needs a ground: the thermostat is only two pronged - not three with a ground. Also, the ground appears to attach to one of the wires that powers the heating element - wtf? In the middle is the dial control from behind. Once it is turned enough, it creates a connection between two pieces of metal, thus creating the circuit.

I am fairly uneducated in circuitry and whatnot. I'm sure that for you guys it'll be no big deal.

Thanks much.

[tybrenis]

Update: resized pic:

http://powerpackedpc.com/images/tbcs/controller1.jpg

[crazybillybob]

tyb,
You can bypass the thermo Stat in one by Tying the Wire that goes to the nut looking blob in the middle to the brass colored blob on the right. Thi will make it on all the time. The other option is to jumper the inpower from one controler (left wire on unit one to left wire on unit two, right element wire (attached to the brass colored blob) to the right element wire on unit two. The down side is I don't know if the thermastat can handle that kind of current (so you might let the smoke out of one!) But If you look At Bod's vac former he doesn't have a thermostat, he just turns it on full bore till the plastic sangs the right amount then boom forms it. It's all up to you, just becarefull 120 AC can hurt you very bad, so don't go pokeing around with it pluged in!

CrazyBillybob

[tybrenis]

tyb,
You can bypass the thermo Stat in one by Tying the Wire that goes to the nut looking blob in the middle to the brass colored blob on the right. Thi will make it on all the time. The other option is to jumper the inpower from one controler (left wire on unit one to left wire on unit two, right element wire (attached to the brass colored blob) to the right element wire on unit two. The down side is I don't know if the thermastat can handle that kind of current (so you might let the smoke out of one!) But If you look At Bod's vac former he doesn't have a thermostat, he just turns it on full bore till the plastic sangs the right amount then boom forms it. It's all up to you, just becarefull 120 AC can hurt you very bad, so don't go pokeing around with it pluged in!

CrazyBillybob

Thanks CBB! Is one of those safer to try then the other? I have spent too much on this project and do not want to buy ANOTHER grill. I think I know what you are saying, but could you (or anyone else reading this!) possibly draw a simple diagram for me (just use red lines or something drawn over the picture)?

[xmastree]

I would guess that the centre prong, the one you thought was a ground, is actually the temperature sensing element.

What's wrong with the element shutting off? It's merely trying to regulate the 300 degrees that you asked it for...

I'd go with CBB and allow one thermostat to control both of the elephants.

Edit: better pic.

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/6553controller2.jpg

But still quick 'n' dirty...

[Cevinzol]

The center (longer) prong is in fact the thermal probe.
If you run both grills through 1 probe (and therefore 1 switch) you will be doubleing the load on it. There's a good chance its not designed to handle that and it will fail.

I'm with x-mass tree, whats wrong with 2 regulators?
Haven't you ever used a grill before (or an oven, for pizza)? Its the heat in your oven that will soften the plastic not the actual IR radiation from the burners. I assume you're pre-heating the oven. Once its up to temp who cares how often it goes on and off to keep it there.