On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 11:19:13 -0500, "Bill Stock"
wrote:

rec.crafts.woodturning
is a knowledge base for NiChrome??

I must have NiCHrome filtered out.. never seen it mentioned here..


This is somewhat OT, but you appear to be the biggest suppository of
knowledge when it comes to NiChrome.

I want to build a Hot Wire to bend some Acrylic. The wire in question is #22
and approximately 1 ohm per foot.

Most of the temperature tables I've seen for NiChrome wire show the
relationship between Amps and Temperature. But shouldn't this really be
Watts? For example the tables show that I need about 3 Amps for the 400°F
that I require. The tables I've seen don't actually show temps that low. But
assuming the tables are referring to 120V, that would mean 360 Watts or 15
Amps at 24 Volts? This can't be right?

The second problem is the power supply. Assuming I'm confused about the
Watts and 3 amps at 24 Volts will suffice. The average light dimmer will
only handle about 500 Watts, but if I short out (2 Ohms) the transformer
secondary I will fry the dimmer and/or transformer (DAMHIKT). I've seen the
light bulb in series trick, but even a 200 Watt bulb on the Transformer
secondary would not give me enough Amps to reach my temperature. Although I
suppose a 200 Watt bulb on the Transformer primary would give me 8 Amps at
24V?

There's obviously something I don't understand here. I would appreciate it
if someone could lead me out of the darkness.