Timeline for How to determine what voltage and current I should use for a Kanthal heating element?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
8 events
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| Apr 19, 2021 at 13:44 | comment | added | Maintenance Mike | I could put in a rotary dimmer on the input side of a transformer. Or maybe a PWM from the output side of a transformer. I had a previous version of this tool a few years ago. That one ran on the 12v output from an atx power supply, but the hot wire was a little shorter and it took about 5 minutes to heat up, then about 3.5 minutes to heat up the plastic per bend. If I go with a PWM I am limited to a 5 amp output because it is a pre-made circuit from Amazon. | |
| Apr 19, 2021 at 12:47 | comment | added | Maintenance Mike | the only thing in contact with the wire is air. The aluminum channel is only there to keep the plywood from catching fire. The hot wire is also recessed so it will not contact the plastic. There is a minimum of. 375" (3/8") air gap around the wire. | |
| Apr 18, 2021 at 7:36 | comment | added | JRE | @MaintenanceMike: The same problems apply. The temperature of the wire depends on what it is contact with and how good the contact is. It will take more current during the bending process. With the aluminum channel in there, it'll take more current than if it were just the wire - you have to heat the aluminum, and the aluminum is also conducting (and radiating) the heat away. | |
| Apr 17, 2021 at 23:24 | comment | added | Maintenance Mike | Oh, hey look, it's a link now! Thats cool! | |
| Apr 17, 2021 at 23:23 | comment | added | Maintenance Mike | The upper portion of the "tool" is basically an acrylic bender. 2 pieces of plywood on either side of an aluminum channel with a hot wire running through the center of the channel. I'll lay the flat PVC over the top, to heat a straight line across where I want the bend. So the heating element will be a single strand (not coiled) and not touching anything other than the mounts at either end. I did use much of the design from youtu.be/mt4qJ96Pxj8 (sorry, I don't know how to make a "link") | |
| Apr 17, 2021 at 23:02 | comment | added | Maintenance Mike | I created my design from the best parts of several other designs from about 10 YouTube videos. The lower portion of my "tool" is just a flat press. 2 pieces of plywood on hinges. I'll make a single cut, length wise, thru a section of PVC pipe. I'll use a heat gun to warm up the PVC enough to flatten it out then lay it in the flat press with some weights on top to let it cool. Giving me a flat sheet of PVC plastic. | |
| Apr 16, 2021 at 16:25 | history | edited | winny | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Typo
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| Apr 16, 2021 at 15:26 | history | answered | JRE | CC BY-SA 4.0 |