Graphite elements require a special kind of temperature controller to accurately control them across the complete temperature range. Graphite has a lot of electrical peculiarities that occur at various points across the complete temperature range from ambient to 2000C+. Standard controllers and power supplies that use burst fire thyristors are not really suitable. Ceramisis has developed a heater controller specifically for graphite elements. The controller is 3U half rack mount or bench top mount, with a separate transformer box. Our heater controller and power supply offers the complete solution to powering and controlling graphite heating elements. Fitted with a Eurotherm 2216e PID temperature controller which enables the heater to be held at exactly the set temperature. A tuning facility enables the controller to accurately tune to the heaters environment and therefore avoid overshooting during temperature ramping. The control enables ramping and cooling between two set points at a specified ramp rate. The heater controller can also be controlled remotely and integrated in system computer control programs via modbus RS232, RS485 and other protocols.

Our graphite substrate heater controllers have power on / off switch to the whole unit, and an output enable switch to isolate the output from the controller. A 24v interlock circuit is also included to enable the power supply to be integrated with interlocks into other systems, or safety interlocks to be attached directly to the unit; which will switch off the output from the unit if the circuit is broken. This enables safety interlocks via make / break switches for things such as chamber lids closed, vacuum interlocks, cooling water flow, over temperature sensors etc.

The graphite substrate heater controllers run on 240v 50hz supply as standard, current requirements vary depending on the size of element and the element temperature. Other voltage inputs can also be catered for on request.