Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff
How safe is it to use a SSR to control power to a spa? Or use a relay?
Benta:
--- Quote from: bdunham7 on July 19, 2020, 07:24:05 pm ---
--- Quote from: bob91343 on July 19, 2020, 06:42:51 pm ---You may design a perfectly working system but if an insurance claim is made, the company will be ready to deny the claim based on not having a permit.
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What is your basis for that statement?
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Someone gets killed due to DIY electrics in a moist/wet area? A Spa or any safety relevant application is not really the place to use SSRs. You need an installation with 100% safe disconnect, meaning mechanical contacts.
Just the idea makes me shudder.
bdunham7:
--- Quote from: Benta on July 19, 2020, 07:59:55 pm ---Someone gets killed due to DIY electrics in a moist/wet area? A Spa or any safety relevant application is not really the place to use SSDs. You need an installation with 100% safe disconnect, meaning mechanical contacts.
Just the idea makes me shudder.
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Yes, a two-pole contactor seems a safer to me too. However, in this case, the SSR would simply be an additional switch to an already (presumably) safe system. Even if it shorted on, you would be no worse off than before. The OP isn't counting on it as a disconnect or a normal control switch. And these spas are fully GFCI protected at the supply.
DougSpindler:
--- Quote from: Benta on July 19, 2020, 07:59:55 pm ---
--- Quote from: bdunham7 on July 19, 2020, 07:24:05 pm ---
--- Quote from: bob91343 on July 19, 2020, 06:42:51 pm ---You may design a perfectly working system but if an insurance claim is made, the company will be ready to deny the claim based on not having a permit.
--- End quote ---
What is your basis for that statement?
--- End quote ---
Someone gets killed due to DIY electrics in a moist/wet area? A Spa or any safety relevant application is not really the place to use SSDs. You need an installation with 100% safe disconnect, meaning mechanical contacts.
Just the idea makes me shudder.
--- End quote ---
Did you read and understand my post? Did you see there is a GFCI in the circuit. In the US, a GFCI is considered a safe disconnect. Not sure how much safer it could be.
Gyro:
--- Quote from: DougSpindler on July 19, 2020, 07:54:33 pm ---What difference doest it make where you BUY a product? Shouldn't you really be concered about the product itself and not who sold it?
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Yes, absolutely, that's why I stick to places where I'm sure I'm not getting cheap knock-off copies, especially when safety critical. However, if it's a genuine brand from a legitimate looking seller...
langwadt:
--- Quote from: DougSpindler on July 19, 2020, 07:54:33 pm ---
--- Quote from: Gyro on July 19, 2020, 07:45:25 pm ---
--- Quote from: DougSpindler on July 19, 2020, 07:11:56 pm ---
--- Quote from: Gyro on July 19, 2020, 06:58:19 pm ---It tends to be easier to obtain UL approved high current mechanical relays with decent insulation and contact ratings than SSRs. You'll probably have more choice.
An SSR will have a higher thermal dissipation than a relay too.
EDIT: For something high power like a hot-tub, you're probably looking at a 'contactor' rather than a relay too.
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So just go with a contactor/relay? Looking on Amazon i'm finding 30a contactor/relay's for $10.
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Well personally I wouldn't go to Amazon for a guaranteed genuine UL approved contactor these days, I'd use an electrical / electronics distributor, but yes.
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What difference doest it make where you BUY a product? Shouldn't you really be concered about the product itself and not who sold it?
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the chances of actually getting an UL approved contactor that meets specification at electrical/electronics distributor is vastly higher
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