electric element regulator

[Rats]

Does it matter which way?

No it's AC you using if it was DC yes it would matter

Sent from the thingy in my hand.

[Garry]

No it's AC you using if it was DC yes it would matter

I was thinking the same. AC shouldn't matter?

It didn't come with instructions  I'm afraid I think it's a Chinese government conspiracy to kill us all. They send us enough cheap electronic components with no instructions and we'll electrocute ourselves and family's. Jim Corr has a great website, you should check it out 

Back on topic, I didn't realise you'd have to earth the heatsink. I've got an SSR relay with an exposed heatsink, should this be earthed? 

[LordEoin]

Rightio, i kinda figured it wouldn't matter when there were no markings, but wanted to check it out.
Spent the day playing with the SSR instead, but will mess with this regulator during the week.
Christ Garry, you weren't joking about the heat off those SSRs...

[hassettbrew]

Lordeoin just wondering how this worked out for you, I installed one other day and having trouble with overheating the unit and stopping altogether.

[johnrm]

Describe your setup and exactly what happens. How is it overheating?

[Will_D]

YES it does matter how you connect these. See the photo in the first page of this.

It is not a light bulb or an element. The electronics may be sensitive as to which is feed and which is load.

The terminal nearest the heat sink should have either 220 or a wavy line (symbol for ac) printed in white on the pcb.

This (as pictured) is live in, second terminal is live out and do make sure to earth the heat sink!

[hassettbrew]

Here is how I wired up my regulator.  It's smells badly when it running. It reaches boiling with the dial turned just over half way. Then stops working, as in keeps boiling and not letting me turn down the boil. By this stage it's very hot. When I turn the power supply off for about ten minutes it will work again, ie I can turn heat up or down. There was no mention of earthing the heatsink with the instructions

[Will_D]

Well its obviously a totally different thing to the 3.6 kW dimmer mentioned so far!!

[hassettbrew]

heres a link to the one I purchased.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/201326501530?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

It says in the item description that you may need to add a cooling fan to help with heat dissipation from the heat sink. Depending on the wattage of your element, this is most probably the problem. Either that or attach it to a larger heat sink