Crawford Automatic 100 Se Better Site

Before we discuss the "SE," let's establish the baseline. The Crawford Automatic 100 is a ferroresonant constant voltage transformer (CVT). Unlike cheap surge protectors or basic AVRs that use relays and taps, the Crawford 100 uses a magnetic谐振 (resonant) circuit.

Original Core Specs:

The original unit was famous for surviving lightning strikes and generator "sag" that would destroy lesser units. But it had drawbacks: it ran hot, hummed loudly, and weighed nearly 70 lbs.

The SE often features engraved side plates, a brushed or polished finish, and sometimes a leather case. Standard models are utilitarian gray or black paint. If you care about vintage style and resale value, the SE commands 30–50% higher prices on auction sites. crawford automatic 100 se better

Winner: SE (for collectors).

This is a material handling and safety device.

When searchers type “Crawford Automatic 100 SE better,” they may be asking: Which controller on the market today is definitively better? Before we discuss the "SE," let's establish the baseline

Here is an honest comparison of modern controllers that outperform the 100 SE in key areas, along with where the Crawford still holds an edge.

| Feature | Crawford 100 SE | Modern Alternative (e.g., Watlow PM, Omron E5GC, Red Lion T16U) | Is Modern “Better”? | |--------|----------------|------------------------------------------------|---------------------| | PID Auto-Tune | Basic, one-shot tune | Adaptive, continuous tune + overshoot suppression | ✅ Yes – significantly | | Display | 4-digit LED | OLED or LCD with bar graph, trending | ✅ Yes – more info | | Alarms | 2 fixed, one setpoint each | 3-4 configurable (deviation, rate-of-change, loop break) | ✅ Yes – more flexible | | Communication | None (rare optional RS-485) | Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus TCP, USB logging | ✅ Yes – Industry 4.0 ready | | Input Universal | No – must order for TC or RTD | Yes – universal input on same model | ✅ Yes – reduces spare parts | | Panel depth | ~100mm | ~60-80mm | ✅ Yes – fits modern shallow enclosures | | Cost (new) | Discontinued (used market ~$50-100) | New ~$200-350 | ❌ No – Crawford is cheaper used | | Repairability | Through-hole components, easy to fix | SMT, often unrepairable without BGA tools | ✅ Yes – Crawford is better here |

Conclusion: A $250 modern controller from Watlow, Omron, or Red Lion is objectively better in 9 out of 10 performance metrics. However, if your constraint is cost or backwards compatibility, the Crawford 100 SE can still be made “better” through the fixes in Part 3. The original unit was famous for surviving lightning

Why it happens: The internal relay is rated for 2A resistive, but many users switch contactors or solenoids that induce back EMF. Make it better: Two options:

Why it happens: The original auto-tune algorithm assumes a certain thermal response time (roughly 30 seconds to 5 minutes). If your oven takes 20 minutes to stabilize, the 100 SE may oscillate. Make it better: Manually tune the PID parameters.