Slow cookers - modifying

[Harry Bloomfield]

We have two slow cookers/crock pots. Neither seems to operate on any sort of temperature control, rather crude system, of switching elements in series parallel, to get low/medium/high settings, maximum 200w. I'm toying with the idea, to maybe use a W1209 Temperature Controller module, to precisely control the temperatures.

The very same modules, that I have set up and are working rather well, to control the Chinese diesel heater, in my workshop. One turns the heater on, set for the minimum temperature, the second one, turns it off, when it gets too warm in there.

 

[Wayners]

I thought the high setting on a slow cooker is a bit hotter than medium for 2 hours then drops to medium. Medium is what we use all the time and slow cooks food . Low keeps it warm.
We just use the medium setting as standard temperature for cooking.
Not sure what you want to achieve. Medium is cooking temperature. High is basically the same as medium.
Not sure decreasing temperature will cook food better or slower or if the element wood work properly if you drop voltage. There must been a thermostat built in as well.
Just my thoughts.

I bought one of these for a powerful vacuum. It worked.
What would happen if you connected to a slow cooker?

https://amzn.eu/d/3Om2cIS

 

[SUNRAY]

... W1209 Temperature Controller module, to precisely control the temperatures.

The very same modules, that I have set up and are working rather well, to control the Chinese diesel heater, in my workshop. One turns the heater on, set for the minimum temperature, the second one, turns it off, when it gets too warm in there.

Why 2?

 

[big-all]

i used to double up on a terry towel and cover and use a setting lower
iff you do this dont overfil [leave perhaps a 15-20mm below the lid lip] so the expanding liquid doesnt go in the rim space around the lid and gets absorbed by the towel

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Why 2?

Because they chuck a certain level of heat at it, and hope, seems a bit crude to me.

i used to double up on a terry towel and cover and use a setting lower
iff you do this dont overfil [leave perhaps a 15-20mm below the lid lip] so the expanding liquid doesnt go in the rim space around the lid and gets absorbed by the towel

Yes, that's what we do, but it does a fast simmer, even on low.

I bought one of these for a powerful vacuum. It worked.
What would happen if you connected to a slow cooker?
https://amzn.eu/d/3Om2cIS

That would work, but there is no feedback on temperature. The module I linked to senses temperature upto 110C, is very configurable, very accurate, and is easy to adjust the temperature setting from cold, to boiling. It can switch upto 5amp 240v.

I already have a plug in dimmer around somewhere, which would do the same job as above, if that was what I was trying to achieve.