06-08-2013, 09:17 AM
Thank you for reminding me David re Hornsea must get on the phone to John. Another way of working a counter is to use a slot optical coupler as I have done on my mill and drilling machine or to use a ABS braking sensor.Couplers and ABS sensors will work at high speed and are not expensive. I get my couplers from scrap printers and the like and the data is on the net. I like a challenge keeps the brain active. The latest challenge is to use our feed in Electricity from the PV panels to energise the immersion heater. I have installed three 55 Micro farad 400 volt capacitors in an earthed steel box, together with 3 relays such that we can remotely select one capacitor on its own,two in parallel or three in parallel all connected in series with the heating element. So far it has worked well,with a bit of tweeking on the way. Initially I had a 240/110 volt site transformer feeding the immersion heater from the PV panels, but it had, as all transformer do, heat loss. So then I though of the capacitor idea, did a few calculations and looked through the junk box and fortunately got the necessary bits and pieces. There are fully automatic gadgets around from £250 upwards.I've had a big clear out of all my Amateur Radio stuff, all gone, just got one pole left.Ted
