Plugged the PID in and no fuses blew. Windy as heck out there so I played with the PID a bit, but am back inside waiting for friendlier weather. Another storm blowing in.
As to how I built the PID, I have empowering neighbours. I had ordered the PID and bits from Auber, and was explaining what I was doing with a neighbour who is an airplane mechanic. I was telling him that The Source (Radio Shack in the USA) no longer sold the box theat I needed to house everything in. He came by the next day with the box that you see in the photos, and the doohickies that the wires go through the box wall in, and the thingy that you screw the wires into. I was thrilled. He said he would help me build the thing as well.
But I wanted to build it myself. I was talking with another friend who owns a business that makes things that make things (ever see the show "How Its Made"?). He told me to drop by his shop one evening and I did. He set me up at a station with a high speed carbide drill and a controlled X and Y axis to three decimal places. I had all the holes cut out of that box in no time. If I had done it myself in the garage with my drill and jigsaw, I am sure it would not have looked that good.
I then went over to the electrical area of the shop, used the wire and screws, and presto, it was done.
I am a biologist and have very little experience/knowledge on building electrical components, so this was a huge step for me. The plans, so well laid out in this forum, gave me the guts to try it, and my two friends gave me equipment/work areas so I could do it myself.
In fact, as soon as I said it was for my smoker, the two of them bent over backwards to help me
.........
Wait a minute ...... They have both been over for some smoked goodness before .... I think they were empowering me!!!
In the summer, I plan on feeding them and their families as a thank you.
