Crock Pot Surgery!

[big_teee]

I Got a small Crock Pot a Couple of Months Ago.
It is the perfect size for a wax pot.
The problem is it get too hot on both Low and Hi settings.
So to use it for a wax pot I have to put a thermometer in it, and turn it on and off all the time to keep it under 160 Degrees.
I haven't tore into it yet.
Does anyone know how they work and how the Temp is cycled?
Is there anything I Can Do to Change it?
Terry

[Jazz P Bass]

Hook it up to a "lamp limiter:
That will bring down the lowest setting.

[SpareRibs]

HELLO,
I was thinking a rheostat. You could set that to 0- to the setting you are looking for. Set some reference points and you could have the perfect setting every time!

[big_teee]

Hook it up to a "lamp limiter:
That will bring down the lowest setting.

I hate to sound dumb, but how does a lamp limiter work?
T
Edit Note**
I searched it, and it appears to be the same circuit as a dim bulb tester.
So if I run it through a 100 watt light bulb that would drop the voltage and Temp I guess?
Terry

[tedmich]

PID temp controllers are REALLY cheap now, there are good dual display RTD/thermocouple units for $15 on ebay and even adding a big relay and probe pushes it to maybe $40,
Dual Digital F/C PID Temperature Controller Control weather devices | eBay

never understood why $500+ stoves have a crappy $2 bimetallic +/-20C thermostats...

[big_teee]

Update.
I turned the pot on today and ran it on high until the wax was Melted.
Then I plugged it into the Dim Bulb Tester.
On the low setting, it kept the wax at a Perfect 140F Degrees.
Thanks Guys,
Terry

[Jim Darr]

Terry,

Did you use a 100 watt bulb or a different wattage and was it a true Dim Bulb Tester circuit?

Jim

[big_teee]

Terry,

Did you use a 100 watt bulb or a different wattage and was it a true Dim Bulb Tester circuit?

Jim

Actually it was a 60 Watt, and a 40 Watt bulb together?
I Think We can still use 100 Watt Bulbs Here if we choose to?
This is one I built for Initial firing up Project Amplifiers, it can use 2 bulbs.
Terry

[Jim Darr]

Terry,

I assume you ran the two bulbs in series on the positive side of the circuit. Is this correct? What is the benefit of using two bulbs instead of one?

Jim

[big_teee]

Mine is made like this.
It has the switch like below also.
I used a 2 Bulb lite fixture, so you could do different combos.
I can do 1 40 Watt, or 2x40, or 2x60 up to 2x100Watt depending on the load required.
A very handy device and I made mine from the Scrap pile.
Terry

Edit Note**
My 2 Bulb model is wired in Series like the attachment except.
The 2 Bulbs are wired in parallel together.
That way you can use either first, or Second Bulb independently.
Or both bulbs together.
Really works Slick!

[Jazz P Bass]

Love the drawing!

[Chuck H]

Love the drawing!

Me too. I'd actually have that on a T-shirt.

[copperheadroads]

I Got a small Crock Pot a Couple of Months Ago.
It is the perfect size for a wax pot.
The problem is it get too hot on both Low and Hi settings.
So to use it for a wax pot I have to put a thermometer in it, and turn it on and off all the time to keep it under 160 Degrees.
I haven't tore into it yet.
Does anyone know how they work and how the Temp is cycled?
Is there anything I Can Do to Change it?
Terry

I have a crock pot with 3 settings high /low & warm ,the warm setting keeps the wax in the 150 to 160 range which works good if remember no to leave it on high when i first plug it in

[big_teee]

I have a crock pot with 3 settings high /low & warm ,the warm setting keeps the wax in the 150 to 160 range which works good if remember no to leave it on high when i first plug it in

I guess the Warm setting is what is missing on mine.
I may try to tear into it and see if there might be something I can add internally.
Terry

[Chuck H]

Older units had resistors. Some newer ones use a bi-metal thermal trigger that's near impossible to modify accurately.