Starting a DIY sous vide cooker project

[TastesLikeChicken]

Put the pump on the inlet side of the heater so that the max temp would be the highest SV setting - probably 165F or so.

It's still a problem. The pumps I can find that are rated for continuous duty and provide the needed flow are ony rated to handle up to 50C max. There are some I have found that are rated higher but they are a bit expensive. Don't want to spend north of 50 bucks on one.

 

[Howard]

It's still a problem. The pumps I can find that are rated for continuous duty and provide the needed flow are ony rated to handle up to 50C max. There are some I have found that are rated higher but they are a bit expensive. Don't want to spend north of 50 bucks on one.

Unless you happen to scavenge a used lab/commercial pump, I don't think you're going to get a cheap pump that flows well and is rated for high temps... why not get a cheapie and replace them as they die?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Unless you happen to scavenge a used lab/commercial pump, I don't think you're going to get a cheap pump that flows well and is rated for high temps... why not get a cheapie and replace them as they die?

Simple answer - My anal sensibilities won't permit me. 🙂

 

[PottedMeat]

could a magnestir be used instead of a pump?

 

[Howard]

could a magnestir be used instead of a pump?

Possibly, but it would need to deal with more than a gallon of water at any given time, with large obstructions to flow.

 

[Howard]

Apparently the auto-tune feature works as advertised; I was getting a steady-state error of 8-10% above set point, but then it dropped to +/- 1% or so after auto-tune. Beats the hell out of manually tuning, I suppose.

This week I'm going to be cutting out the enclosure and tidying up the wiring.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Yucky/IMG00044-20110515-1443.jpg

 

[Howard]

Since I have a big cookout coming up, I think using even a big pot is going to be too limiting, so my plan is to cook the food in a cooler. I already ordered the immersion heater.

Being in Canada, you find that you pay more for stuff than you do in the States...

 

[Howard]

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Yucky/IMG_2071.jpg

Just gotta file the inner corners square, and then everything gets assembled.

 

[Howard]

I'm not letting this thread die yet.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Yucky/IMG_2074.jpg

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Yucky/IMG_2077.jpg

Just have to drill a hole to let the probe cable through, and mount the terminal strips. Then we eat!

 

[Howard]

Finished up the last couple of things: cleaned up the wiring instead as best I could, calibrated the probe with some boiling water (was off by 2.3F), and swapped the straight-through probe cable fitting (which was super ghetto) with a proper panel-mounted connector, 3-terminal female M8, with a right-angle plug for better impact resistance and durability.

 

[Howard]

Next project: steel filing cabinet -> huge-ass smoking rig!

 

[xSauronx]

pretty nifty project...but id screw something electronic up along the way

 

[Taejin]

wait wait does it work now?

 

[Leros]

nm

 

[Howard]

wait wait does it work now?

has for a while

 

[Howard]

Simple answer - My anal sensibilities won't permit me. 🙂

So supposedly aquarium bubblers do a decent job of air circulation. Looks like most any large bubbler will work as long as you get a heavy-duty air pump on it.

 

[Howard]

Hmm. Cool.

I've been wanting to pick up a PID temp controller for my Alton Brown smoker anyway. Damn you! Just what I need, another project... lol.

I got my thermocouple for air temperature last week. I've already soldered it to the quick-disconnect cable and now all I need to do is to calibrate it (see here) and build/find a box for the smoke chamber.