Lee hot pot modifications?

[bass4cache]

I was wondering if anyone has had any luck changing thermostats or making improvements to the Lee plastic melting pots? I've got some but they are so inaccurate and hard to regulate I don't like to use them. Maybe its my pots?

[jm]

You could put the pot full on and control the temp with a thermocouple temp controller. I've gotten them for anywhere from 25 to 200 dollars on E-bay.

The active component in the controller is available in a chip. I think they are about $12. The temp range is a little high for the silicon active temp sensors. They go to about 125 C, and plastic is about 200 C. Platinum RTD (resistance temperature devices, either 100 or 1k ohm) would work. Honeywell makes a line that would fit any application.

The thermocouple things are the most versatile, and ultimately inexpensive, however the hookup is critical. Every joint in the wiring is a thermocouple, and must be accounted for in the circuitry. The best way is to be sure to use thermocouple wire all the way to where it is connected by soldering to heavy pads near the chip. (the reference junction)

RTD's are easier to use. The sensors are more expensive, but home-brew circuitry to use them is simpler, not requiring the careful treatment of the reference junction.

I'm venturing into the inexpensive automation of some of the aspects of hand pour or custom baits, including temperature control. I hope to market either plans or devices as they develop, keeping in mind my roots as a poor man full of ideas.

If you wish, I could track down some of the spec sheets on controllers, theory, etc. I've come across.

jm

[Delw]

I believe there is a post here from a long time ago( when the board first started ) about this.

If I remember correctly some guys were taking apart the lee pots and wrapping them with glass tape or something so it would heat evenly.

Delw

[guiley]

I'm aware of two methods.

The method I've personally used is the temperature controller/thermocouple method. The thermocouple I used is a 6' long 3/16 diameter stainless steel probe. I drilled a hole in the top of my pour pots and inserted the probe between the aluminum casing and the steel interior so that it is resting on the heating element that goes around the bottom of the pot. I use a small clamp to hold it in position and can unclamp the thermocouple to switch pots. This temperature control is fantastic. I can fill the pots, start the plastic heating, and come back to the plastic literally hours later and it will not have scorched. I wired the output of the temperature controller to an outlet so I didn't have to rewire the pots - the temperature controller turns the outlet on and off to maintain the proper heating element temperature. Don't try to put the temperature probe in the plastic! You'll burn the heck out of it trying to get the plastic to temperature.

The other method is simpler and was employed by a guy I know. He wired the pot to a regular dimmer switch. That way, he can regulate the temperature of the pot just like a knob on the stove burner. He has had great luck with that method and a dimmer switch costs less than $10. I'm not sure if he can leave the pot unattended for a long time.

Good luck!