HerpHandler
New Member
Let me give a little of my background info. Years ago I got my Batchelors in EET, and promptly went into a field that used aproximately 1% of what I learned. I then went back to school to get as much programming training as I could. And then continued in the same field that used less than 1% of that. And as the old saying goes "Use it or lose it" Well Id say its lost :cry:
I used to be an active electronics hobbyist but fell out off the hobby for reasons beyond my control.
Well Im back and raring to go.
Im looking to design and build a control circuit for a resistive heat load (thermostat essentially) But not just an on/off type. Im looking for proportional control. By proportional control I mean I would like to take a resistive load using 120vac and vary the voltage to the load based on a temperature reading at a probe. For example set a setpoint of 75deg F. probe sees 72, Vout 120vac. Probe now sees 73 Vout drops to 80Vac etcetra etcetra.
I know there are commercial versions of this available, but with todays availabilty of PIC chips I would like to tailor my own circuit to my needs (ie. add high/low temp alarms etc)
Its been so long since I fired up my breadboards, soldering irons, and meters Id like to start off small by just getting a basic schematic started that would allow the load control, and Ill work on other bells and whistles in the future.
I assume that using a Micro Controller will be my best bet, and I have started looking into them. PIC being the ones i most likely will use due to FREE samples.
So, being I have rambled on for way too long already. Could someone find it in their heart to put me on the right track as to how to begin an endevour like this.
I used to be an active electronics hobbyist but fell out off the hobby for reasons beyond my control.
Well Im back and raring to go.
Im looking to design and build a control circuit for a resistive heat load (thermostat essentially) But not just an on/off type. Im looking for proportional control. By proportional control I mean I would like to take a resistive load using 120vac and vary the voltage to the load based on a temperature reading at a probe. For example set a setpoint of 75deg F. probe sees 72, Vout 120vac. Probe now sees 73 Vout drops to 80Vac etcetra etcetra.
I know there are commercial versions of this available, but with todays availabilty of PIC chips I would like to tailor my own circuit to my needs (ie. add high/low temp alarms etc)
Its been so long since I fired up my breadboards, soldering irons, and meters Id like to start off small by just getting a basic schematic started that would allow the load control, and Ill work on other bells and whistles in the future.
I assume that using a Micro Controller will be my best bet, and I have started looking into them. PIC being the ones i most likely will use due to FREE samples.
So, being I have rambled on for way too long already. Could someone find it in their heart to put me on the right track as to how to begin an endevour like this.