DIY circulator

Simply put, I'd like a circulator for home and work. I've seen that there are now home models, anova, nomiku etc. However they've been met with mixed reliability results.

I've been contemplating building a circulator for a while now based http://seattlefoodgeek.com/2010/02/diy-sous-vide-heating-immersion-circulator-for-about-75/ . I'd prefer to be hands on with building it because, lets face it, that's half the fun. I'd like to know if any of y'all have built one, what problems you may have faced and how you solved them. Also mention where in the world you're located and where you sourced your parts from.

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Comments

Riku_84035

I was planning on building my own just for fun as you write..but I gave up that dream because of lack of time and bought a poly science circulator... However if I would go and build one today I probably would use an arduino to control and measure the whole thing.

david_111729

building your own is fun. Ive built about 5 of these units and having sourced different types of heating elements and PID controllers was able to get the price per per build way down.

There are a few issues.... the pump- unless you spend some good money on a high end heat resistant pump they will warp and fail.

secondly the heating elements... 1. being exposed can burn through a bag. 2. Ive had 2 mug heaters melt and burn their rubber/plastic grip area. These things are meant to be used for a few minutes not left on for hours or days. Even though they are being cycled on and off they still get too hot and start melting their housing.

Third unless you spend some money on high end parts and a different design of the casing and mount you wont end up saving much if anything at all.

Just get an Anova when they are on sale. If you still want to build your own go for it. Buy parts on ebay. get the cheapest PID controller and pump you can find and only use it for short or low temp cooking sessions like eggs.

Edit: oops did not see there was already another discussion on this. At any rate.. seems the consensus is to buy one versus making one... but if you do for the fun of it ebay immersion heater and look for some heating elements and again go for the cheapest PID controller. Here are a few I made that ended up costing about $45 dollars without the pump. I just suctioned the pumps into the container wherever I wanted them placed.