A Simple Circuit for Providing Temperature Control for Hotplates

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 13 Issue 5 (2008) pp 304-306

A Simple Circuit for Providing Temperature Control for Hotplates

Haewoo Jeong^† and Jonathan E. Thompson*^,‡

Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849, jon.thompson@ttu.edu
Received January 23, 2008. Accepted July 23, 2008.

Published online: 19 August 2008

Abstract. We describe a simple circuit which can be used to thermostat a sample during heating. The components of the circuit are readily available and the entire device can be constructed in a few hours for less than $50. The device maintains temperature within a few centigrade degrees of a set-point with reasonably good day-to-day reproducibility (2.1% R.S.D). We envision the device may find use in the teaching or research laboratory at institutions where cost-savings is a priority.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; general chemistry

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: jon.thompson@ttu.edu)

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