u/oldbencanube

We’re looking for childcare for our little one and could really use some advice or recommendations. Most of the daycare centers we’ve contacted are already fully booked for the year, and we’ve been placed on waitlists wherever possible.

Our parents will be here to help for the next two months, but after that, both of us will be working and we’ll need reliable childcare. In the meantime, we’re hoping to find a decent daycare or another childcare option that can work as a temporary solution until a spot opens up.

What options would you recommend in this situation? Any suggestions for daycares or other reliable alternatives would be greatly appreciated!

I am trying to build a heating plate with 3 heating elements that can maintain a set temperature around **700 °C**, and I would appreciate suggestions from people with experience in high-temperature heater control or furnace/kiln-style control systems. I am not sure what to buyfor the control system.

My planned setup is:

* **Heating elements:** 3 cartridge/insertion heaters * **Heater spec:** 120 V AC, 750 W each, * **Total heater power:** 3 × 750 W = 2250 W * **Estimated current at 120 V:** about 18.75 A * **Heater placement:** inserted into steel plates * **Target temperature:** around 700 °C * **Control goal:** maintain the plate at a stable set point using PID control

I was originally looking at low-cost PID controller kits from Amazon, such as Inkbird or CGELE-style PID kits that include a PID controller, SSR, heat sink, and K-type thermocouple. However, I am concerned that these kits may not be sufficient or safe for my application because:

* The SSR may be rated 40 A, but I am not sure if that is enough for continuous operation with proper derating * The system will draw nearly 19 A continuously at 120 V, do I need to add any circuit breaker for safety * I am not sure whether a plug-and-play kiln/furnace controller would be better than assembling a PID + SSR + enclosure myself

My main questions are:

1. Would a basic PID + SSR kit be acceptable for this kind of 700 °C heating plate, assuming I upgrade the thermocouple?
2. Are there any reliable plug-and-play controller boxes rated for this kind of load and temperature?

I want to understand what a proper design should look like before buying the controller and wiring the system.

Thanks in advance.

I am trying to build a heating plate with 3 heating elements that can maintain a set temperature around **700 °C**, and I would appreciate suggestions from people with experience in high-temperature heater control or furnace/kiln-style control systems. I am not sure what to buyfor the control system.

My planned setup is:

* **Heating elements:** 3 cartridge/insertion heaters * **Heater spec:** 120 V AC, 750 W each, * **Total heater power:** 3 × 750 W = 2250 W * **Estimated current at 120 V:** about 18.75 A * **Heater placement:** inserted into steel plates * **Target temperature:** around 700 °C * **Control goal:** maintain the plate at a stable set point using PID control

I was originally looking at low-cost PID controller kits from Amazon, such as Inkbird or CGELE-style PID kits that include a PID controller, SSR, heat sink, and K-type thermocouple. However, I am concerned that these kits may not be sufficient or safe for my application because:

* The SSR may be rated 40 A, but I am not sure if that is enough for continuous operation with proper derating * The system will draw nearly 19 A continuously at 120 V, do I need to add any circuit breaker for safety * I am not sure whether a plug-and-play kiln/furnace controller would be better than assembling a PID + SSR + enclosure myself

My main questions are:

1. Would a basic PID + SSR kit be acceptable for this kind of 700 °C heating plate, assuming I upgrade the thermocouple?
2. Are there any reliable plug-and-play controller boxes rated for this kind of load and temperature?

I want to understand what a proper design should look like before buying the controller and wiring the system.

Thanks in advance.