HI Folks Some advice please. I'm working on the control gear for a homebuilt glass-fusing kiln. It's using a commercial digital controller, which provides a switched output @ 12v DC. Final load is two resistive wire elements, each rated @ 240v / 15A.
I can either feed the controller output through a small relay, to provide a switched 240v AC, or source a high-current Relay / Contactor that will accept the 12v. At the moment, I'm leaning towards the 'slave relay' approach, as I don't know what current the control board can supply.
I'd rather not go the fully electronic route with a solid state relay for the final device - I rather like things that go 'clunk' .
Looking at CPC, high powered relays are available, as are contactors, but the relays tend to be cheaper. What's best in this application? - is a contactor 'overkill' - or berely 'prudent' ?
Thanks for any informed comments. Adrian