Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can someone please help me out. I just bought a couple today, tried wiring them together. Power comes on etc...but nothing from the power strip works. Argh...

I am not an electrical wiz.

It came with directions and diagrams, I thought I did it to it's specs but to no avail.

Thanks in advance.

Joel
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- Joel Smith

"If you're not part of the solution, you're still part of the problem"

Well, you have the wiring diagrams. I don't know what else to tell you on that subject. If you are unsure about reading those, find someone who is more familiar. Did you connect the neutral wire to the output? Now for the help on what can also be the problem.. did you program it correctly?

You should select the setpoint (highest desired temp of whatever you want the sensor to see), select the differential (anything from 2-4 deg is good for most apps, you can fine-tune this later), and then select "h" for heat control. This way, the output will turn off at the setpoint temperature, and not turn on again until the sensor sees the setpoint minus the differential.

Example: setpoint set to 82 deg, differential set to 3 deg, mode is "h" - the heater will be ON until the sensor sees 82 deg. Then the heater will go OFF and stay OFF until the sensor sees 78-79 deg.

If you have mode "c" selected for cooling, the logic is reversed and will give you strange results unless you are using the device to turn on an air conditioner.
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Mark

I have it set at 91 degrees.

Diff at 1.

and it's on H1 - Heating.

Can you tell me what wires go into the 240 120 COM

and the NC NO and C.

I have a surge protector with the Green/white/black wires and an extension cord with the same.

I have a black wire from the extension cord running into the 120.

I have the white wires from the extension cord and surge protector running into the COM.

And I have another 14g wire running from the 120 to the C.

From the surge protector I have the black wire running into the NC.

Where did I screw up?

LOL.

Thanks,,

Joel

>>Well, you have the wiring diagrams. I don't know what else to tell you on that subject. If you are unsure about reading those, find someone who is more familiar. Did you connect the neutral wire to the output? Now for the help on what can also be the problem.. did you program it correctly?
>>
>>You should select the setpoint (highest desired temp of whatever you want the sensor to see), select the differential (anything from 2-4 deg is good for most apps, you can fine-tune this later), and then select "h" for heat control. This way, the output will turn off at the setpoint temperature, and not turn on again until the sensor sees the setpoint minus the differential.
>>
>>Example: setpoint set to 82 deg, differential set to 3 deg, mode is "h" - the heater will be ON until the sensor sees 82 deg. Then the heater will go OFF and stay OFF until the sensor sees 78-79 deg.
>>
>>If you have mode "c" selected for cooling, the logic is reversed and will give you strange results unless you are using the device to turn on an air conditioner.
>>-----
>>Mark
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- Joel Smith

"If you're not part of the solution, you're still part of the problem"

The black wire from the outlet strip should be connected to the N.O. contact on the Ranco relay output instead of the N.C. Other than that it sounds good.

>>The black wire from the outlet strip should be connected to the N.O. contact on the Ranco relay output instead of the N.C. Other than that it sounds good.
-----
- Joel Smith

"If you're not part of the solution, you're still part of the problem"

Woah. I thought it would be easy.
Are they all this hard?

Rudy
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0.1 Rubber Boa
1.0 Eastern Hognose 2003 super red
0.2 Eastern Hognose Snakes
3.3 Western Hognose Snakes
1.0 Durango Mountain Kingsnake
1.1 Woma's (new!)
Spadefoot
Black Knobbed Sawback
Northern Diamondback
Florida Redbellied Slider
Western Painted
Southern Painted
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata

1 Pleco
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
2.0 Fire Guramis

uhh... I think that is it.

>>Woah. I thought it would be easy.
>>Are they all this hard?
>>
>>Rudy
>>-----
>>0.1 Rubber Boa
>>1.0 Eastern Hognose 2003 super red
>>0.2 Eastern Hognose Snakes
>>3.3 Western Hognose Snakes
>>1.0 Durango Mountain Kingsnake
>>1.1 Woma's (new!)
>> Spadefoot
>> Black Knobbed Sawback
>> Northern Diamondback
>> Florida Redbellied Slider
>> Western Painted
>> Southern Painted
>>1.0 African Hedgehog
>>1.0 Sulcata
>>
>>1 Pleco
>>2 Silver Dollars
>>3 Bosemian Rainbows
>>1 Cory Cat
>>1 Upside Down Catfish
>>2.0 Fire Guramis
>>
>>uhh... I think that is it.
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- Joel Smith

"If you're not part of the solution, you're still part of the problem"

The critical part was getting the correct power wires wired to the 120 and COM and C. That is the important part. If done incorrectly, it can cause a spark and a circuit breaker popping, or worse. So be proud that you did that correctly!

With a relay output to the heater (or outlet strip), you either connect the black wire to the N.O. or N.C. contact. You have a 50/50 chance of being right depending on the mode of the controller. If one doesn't work, try the other. There is no danger if you choose the wrong one.

I just wired up my ranco today and it works great, but I am still not clear on the difference between the NO (normally open) and NC (normally closed) settings.

What is the difference? The unit can carry 3X the wattage with the NO setting.
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Chris Harrison

...he was beginning to realize he was the creature of a god that appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers - W. Somerset Maugham

The relay has 3 terminals - C, NO and NC - and a coil.

C= Common or wiper
NO = Normally Open with relay coil de-energized
NC = Normally Closed with relay coil de-energized

When the Ranco is in heat mode and the temperature sensor registers a temp LOWER than the setpoint temp (the temp you set for the Ranco to trip at), the relay coil is energized and the C becomes connected to the NO contact. This happens inside the relay. A little metal arm that the C contact is connected to is pulled to the NO contact by the electromagnetic force of the energized relay coil.

When the Ranco senses the setpoint temp, C swings back to the NC contact by a spring as the coil is de-energized.

Coil energized (below setpoint) - C connects to NO
Coil de-energized (at or above setpoint) - C connects to NC

Some power relays (relays for carrying a good amount of current) may have one contact heavier-rated than the other. A contact that stays closed can carry alot more current than one which is opened often, because there is an arc on an opening contact if the load is a motor (like an AC unit.) The Ranco may have a higher rated NO or NC contact for that reason, whichever one is used in Cool mode for an AC. I forgot which one you said it was.