Mains bed pwm frequency/flickering lights.

[tekkydave]

What type of SSR are you using. Check if it is a "zero crossing" type which only turns on/off at the mains zero-crossing points. May make a difference?

Also a lot of the cheap ones are fakes and are lower rated devices in a fake enclosure. Could be worth trying a different device from a reputable supplier.

[zapta]

@tekkydave said in Mains bed pwm frequency/flickering lights.:

Check if it is a "zero crossing" type which only turns on/off at the mains zero-crossing points

What is a good way to check this? Will an AM radio pick more static?

[tekkydave]

@zapta is there a part number on the ssr?

[zapta]

@tekkydave, I don't know the SSR model, I was asking regarding your suggestion to @Surgikill. Is there a simple way to test if a SSR is zero crossng?

[tekkydave]

@zapta I don't think so apart from the manufacturer's spec.

[Surgikill]

@tekkydave This is the SSR I bought.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/25A-40A-SSR-25DA-SSR-40DA-250V-Solid-State-Relay-Module-Alloy-Heat-Sink/401478280169

Probably a fake. I paid 9 bucks for it back in 2019.

[Phaedrux]

Why buy a fake for 9 bucks when you can get a real one (25A) with certification for 9 bucks?

https://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_30&products_id=9

or the 40A for 17$

https://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_30&products_id=30

I have this one by the way.

[Surgikill]

@Phaedrux Probably because this is the first time I've heard of fakes, and every time I looked up genuine ones they were 35 bucks.

[Phaedrux]

It was really bad a few years ago.

https://www.instructables.com/The-inner-workings-of-Counterfeit-FOTEK-SSRs/

[Surgikill]

@Phaedrux Great. I have like 4 of these SSR's in various projects, some using 220V and high current. Can't wait to see if any of them explode.

[tekkydave]

I discovered I had a fake Fotek SSR on my 750W 220V heatpad. It looks genuine but I only paid a few quid for it on ebay. To be fair it was doing its job but I didn't want to take the risk.

I replaced it with this one from a reputable supplier (RS in the UK).

[tekkydave]

If you check out https://protosupplies.com/inferior-counterfeit-fotek-ssr-25-solid-state-relays-on-the-market/ it has two pics to highlight how to spot the fake Foteks.

The Real Ones look like this:

and the fakes:

[Surgikill]

@tekkydave Yep, mine is fake as shit. Looks like I need to get some better ones.