Homebrew PCBs

> I thought a temp controller should be easier to figure out, and I guess
once I had
> it in hand the 4 pages of instructions in the 8 page manual would convert
from
> japanese to english. It might be interesting solve the riddle of what the
following
> terms in the manual mean when programming it:
> 
> LBA deadband
> autotuning
> proportional band/cycle
> integral time
> derivative time
> anti-reset windup
> proportional cycle


Ignore everything bar autotuning - it sets most of those options for you.

They are pretty simple, but it's one of those things that's simple when you
know how, but in general you set the temperate you want, run autotune and
that's it.  You won't find a 'Dummies' guide, like most industrial stuff
you're supposed to know what you're doing if you buy one.

The manuals are generic and list every possible option, it's unlikely the
controller you buy supports it.  For example one I brought has a C/F degrees
display option, you can change it but it only shows Celcius (fine for me,
YMMV).  The $20 eBay ones are usually REX C100 series clones, Google will
find plenty of info.

For a laminator these are fine, bearing in mind the output is a 3A relay.

'LBA deadband' triggers an alarm if the controller detects the heater isn't
warming up fast enough, so for an oven maybe you left the door open or
something.  Nice but not something you really need.

Tony