I'm looking for a way to control a resistive load, like a heater, so it only uses leftover solar energy. I've been exploring SCR (thyristor voltage controller) options, but all I can find are manual controllers that just come with a pot dial, and they're not smart integrated. I did stumble upon some expensive industrial modules, but I'm after something more commercial—specifically one that can handle 220V, preferably 16A. Does anyone know of any modules with an ESP chip or similar programmable chip that has Wi-Fi, or can connect to an ESP32 for control? Also, has anyone tried using digital potentiometers instead of the typical manual dials?
1 Answer
Instead of hunting for a specific module with built-in Wi-Fi, you might find it easier to look for one that supports I2C. This way, you can communicate with it using your microcontroller, like the ESP32, over a simple bus connection.
I tried searching for I2C options, but I just keep finding the standard ones with manual dials. If you have any suggestions, I’m all ears!