I finally put together my temp control module. Thanks to skeaterbait, for the inspiration. Their was a thread awhile ago about thermostats for heat boxes, which got me excited (doesn't take much). I originally was looking for a plug and play model, but there was nothing for my 240v element. I did find a controller that would work on any voltage, they are called PID controllers and apparently they are essentially the same as a cruise control unit. They don't work work as an on/off switch, they modulate the output to keep the actual temp as close to the set temp as possible.
I need to state, it is overkill  for a bow box, but it works so well. I do have some other uses in mind, I can use it to cool my greenhouse in the summer and heat in the spring/fall seasons. I also plan to use it to control a kiln to heat treat some A2 steel.
The funky layout in the box, is so I could access all the terminals on the switches and outlets. I added a 120v outlet, which is on as long as the unit is plugged in, to run a axial fan in the box. The switch turns on everything else. The fan is awesome, no hot spots while your baking. The whole shebang was not expensive either, $33. for the PID unit, solid state relay, heat sink and thermocouple. I got the rest of the parts at my favorite discount store, Habitat for Humanity. Total cost was just under $50. The muffin fan,I bought awhile ago, was $17.
This thing is pretty sweet and I would recommend it for anybody thats upgraded from lightbulbs as a heat source. I am using a 300 watt element salvaged from a baseboard heater, which takes 12min to go from 57 to 160 degrees. [attachment=1][attachment=2]

I forgot to post a pic of the fan. Its rated to 250deg.

Nice job...

Didn't Clark Griswald have a setup like that?

That's where he got the plans.

http://hotsyequipment.com/equipment/hotsy-heat-cannon/
Make a hole in your heatbox and install one or two of these and your glue is cured in no time.

HA Bue that may be a crispy critter to.

Very innovative.  I may go this way in the future, but for now I'm still in the stone ages with my lightbulbs....

Clark Griswald? Isn't that the guy from National Lampoon Vacation? Actually this evolved over many years. I first used light bulbs, then switched to infrared emitters, then halogen puck lights and a heat gun. Finally after being constantly impatient, waiting for the box to get to temp, I found this baseboard heater on a remodel job and the light bulb went on and off for good. The fan came into use because the element created one hell of a hot spot.
I would be interested to see Griswold's setup, always room for improvement.

Quote from: lignaphile on October 12, 2018, 10:56:38 AM
Clark Griswald? Isn't that the guy from National Lampoon Vacation? Actually this evolved over many years. I first used light bulbs, then switched to infrared emitters, then halogen puck lights and a heat gun. Finally after being constantly impatient, waiting for the box to get to temp, I found this baseboard heater on a remodel job and the light bulb went on and off for good. The fan came into use because the element created one hell of a hot spot.
I would be interested to see Griswold's setup, always room for improvement.

Yep, and Christmas vacation. I was just yankin your chain, I envy your ability to put one of those together. Mine would end up more like the Griswald Christmas light power source.

[attachment=1]

Sweet! I'm making that next, after I convert my 89' Corolla into a time machine.

Very nice set up ,I bought one of those inkbird cruise controls but it only worked in the cooling mode ,I sent it back and Im back to manual shift 😃

Quote from: Yellowwood on October 12, 2018, 01:27:28 PM
Very nice set up ,I bought one of those inkbird cruise controls but it only worked in the cooling mode ,I sent it back and Im back to manual shift 😃

I just revisited the old thread where skeaterbait told us about his Inkbird unit. It looks like you got a temp controller also. Might look into a PID instead, next time.

It is a kind of a bummer yours didn't work. I have had two of them so far and no trouble from either. I looked in to PID's but I ain't got the schoolin to make one work.

Skeats mine would only work in the cooling mode must have got a bad one lucky me I dont know any thing about the Pid I just need light bulbs control nothing like Flem uses you are the gizmo king 😃

Dang, those high tech gwass bows gots to be hard ta make...

I flip dah light switch and dah bulb lights.

A buddy of mine calls me the Hillbilly, Rube Goldberg. Not sure if thats a complement.

I still want to get around to making one of your vacum presses that would be the ultimate form machine , I come from a farming family and my brothers and I every night would go and make gizmos after dinner for entertainment we made every thing from Ham radios to zip guns...lol  my wife calls me a hill billy....lol

My wife says I'm a redneck.

Just because duct tape works:)

You guys got it good, my wife just calls me a dork.