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Ink Bird Controllers
- Thread starter BKBrews
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I've had my ITC-310T for about a week now. I'm still finishing the freezer conversion, but I have been testing the controller with a couple of cubes of water. The controller seems to work fine and as advertised. It's not all that hard to work it, but you definitely need to consult the manual. The user interface is limited by the display and 3 buttons.
Mine came with a 30cm long probe that you can submerge into your fermenter. Since this is a simple controller with a target temperature and separate positive and negative delta, I don't think I'll be doing that. I'll be attaching the probe to the outside of the fermenter so that I get enough ambient influence. My theory is that this approach should prevent overshoot. I guess I'll learn more with experience.
I paid under $60 for it, delivered directly from China. It took less than 2 weeks to get it, which was a nice surprise, since I was expecting the usual 4-8 weeks.
I like it as a quick and easy solution that will get you up and running with minimal effort. I was going to build a small embedded system with WiFi, logging, several probes and advanced temperature control algorithms, then I realised that such a project would delay quality brewing by many months, perhaps even years. Decided to get a turnkey solution and put the fancy project on a list of things to do when I have "spare time".
Mine came with a 30cm long probe that you can submerge into your fermenter. Since this is a simple controller with a target temperature and separate positive and negative delta, I don't think I'll be doing that. I'll be attaching the probe to the outside of the fermenter so that I get enough ambient influence. My theory is that this approach should prevent overshoot. I guess I'll learn more with experience.
I paid under $60 for it, delivered directly from China. It took less than 2 weeks to get it, which was a nice surprise, since I was expecting the usual 4-8 weeks.
I like it as a quick and easy solution that will get you up and running with minimal effort. I was going to build a small embedded system with WiFi, logging, several probes and advanced temperature control algorithms, then I realised that such a project would delay quality brewing by many months, perhaps even years. Decided to get a turnkey solution and put the fancy project on a list of things to do when I have "spare time".
Killer Brew
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Great price. Where did you get it from!
eBay. I did a search for Inkbird. Ended up buying from http://www.ebay.com.au/usr/lerway100
Batz
Batz Brewery...Hand crafted beers from the 'Batcav
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I have the ITC-310T, as I have been away working for a few shuts I still have not had time to use it. I did bring it with me so I can have a play with it on my day off, to be honest a quick look at the instructions seemed a bit overwhelming for an old bloke like me.
A 12 year old kid would have it sorted in minutes I'm sure, I'll sit back with a beer or two this Sunday and nut it out.
I do believe it is a good product at a fair price.
Batz
A 12 year old kid would have it sorted in minutes I'm sure, I'll sit back with a beer or two this Sunday and nut it out.
I do believe it is a good product at a fair price.
Batz
If you don't use the timers, the complexity is about the same. Just one extra setting that you leave at zero. Once you set the number of timers to more than zero, it's not very much more complicated either. Just a temperature and duration for each step.
Thanks for the info.
I've just hit them up on ebay to see if they have a deal for forum members and I'll take it from there. If I can get the 308S for about $50 I'll probably just do that.... I just wanted to know if the brand itself made good controllers.
I've just hit them up on ebay to see if they have a deal for forum members and I'll take it from there. If I can get the 308S for about $50 I'll probably just do that.... I just wanted to know if the brand itself made good controllers.
huez
Well-Known Member
I bought 3 of them, got a refund on 2 after a couple of months use. The temperature wouldn't stay steady, would fluctuate quite a bit. This would make the fridge constantly kick on, even with a compressor delay of 10mins it was turning on and off constantly. They worked fine at first as far as i could tell. Only reason i'm still using the third one is because its only hooked up to a heating belt.
Patrick_BCB
Well-Known Member
I've got three of the Inkbird ITC-310T's and am very happy with them after 10 weeks. I don't use the timer function at all, but at some stage may want to.
Have had zero issues with the controller and like the plus/minus .3 degrees range I can keep my brew at during fermentation. I manually adjust mine as needs be including cc'ing in the fermentation chamber. Tested against some of the other temperature controllers / thermometers I have and found the 0~10 degree range to be more accurate than any of the other equipment I have. Over 10 everything else started to line up.
Love the heating and cooling sockets, especially since my fridges live under the house and the ambient has gone close to 10 some mornings so heating was essential.
Have had zero issues with the controller and like the plus/minus .3 degrees range I can keep my brew at during fermentation. I manually adjust mine as needs be including cc'ing in the fermentation chamber. Tested against some of the other temperature controllers / thermometers I have and found the 0~10 degree range to be more accurate than any of the other equipment I have. Over 10 everything else started to line up.
Love the heating and cooling sockets, especially since my fridges live under the house and the ambient has gone close to 10 some mornings so heating was essential.
timmi9191
Well-Known Member
If youre not using the timers, whats the benefit over an STC-1000?
Patrick_BCB
Well-Known Member
I may use the timers, it was a feature I thought worth the extra investment.timmi9191 said:
I have no experience with the STC-1000 - does it automatically switch between heating and cooling? That was a must have feature for me. I had previously purchased a controller that I *thought* switched between heating and cooling to maintain a temperature but unfortunately this was not the case.
STC 1000 does switch between heating and cooling. But some assembly required as per the thread on the subject. Purely a thermostat.Patrick_BCB said:
If you are inclined, the STC 1000+ is a project where a particular version of the STC 1000 is programmed with custom firmware which allows timed temperature profiles for fermentation to be saved. It's hand but 1 degree of difficulty more than "some assembly required".
The timing function is useful.
Very simple. One socket is heating and it is turned on when the temperature needs to be warmer. The other socket is cooling and it is turned on when the temperature needs to be colder. You can hook up nothing and just use the unit to monitor temperature, you can hook up both to maintain temperature within a range or just hook up cooling or heating to prevent the temperature going too high or too low. Your choice.
VP Brewing
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Would these be suitable to control a HERMS?
sp0rk
Mayor of Pooptown
I wouldn't think so, they're a temp controller, not a PIDVP Brewing said:
You don't have the accuracy of a PID, they just shut off a set temp, so you risk still having temp rises
Killer Brew
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sp0rk
Mayor of Pooptown
My Inkbird ITC-310T just got here
Will report back on it some time soon
Will report back on it some time soon
sp0rk
Mayor of Pooptown
This is the one I won in the last comp on here (which was drawn mid july...)
I sent them my details on 26/8, they replied saying sorry for the late reply on 30/8 and it appeared in my office just now, was sent via untracked Parcel Post
I sent them my details on 26/8, they replied saying sorry for the late reply on 30/8 and it appeared in my office just now, was sent via untracked Parcel Post
Patrick_BCB
Well-Known Member
You sure canBKBrews said:
MartinOC
Insert something suitably witty here
At a pinch, yes. I tried it on my system awhile back. The problem is that they don't wait until the target rest temperature is reached before starting a timed rest period. You need to know your system's ramping rate & add the ramping period to your rest period.VP Brewing said:
Yep, exactly what I experienced. You get fluctuations above/below the set-point just like an STC-1000. If accuracy is what you're after, a PID is the way to go.sp0rk said:
I picked it up from the post office this morning and I must say, for $45 and the ease of use, I couldn't be happier. Plugged in and set up within 30 seconds. The only thing they could do better is having either a longer cooling/heating cord or building the heating/cooling sockets into the body. I want to hang it on the side of my fridge, but the socket makes it a bit awkward.
What does everyone normally set the compressor delay at? I left mine at the default 2min until I hear otherwise. I also left it with a 1 degree heating and cooling leeway.
What does everyone normally set the compressor delay at? I left mine at the default 2min until I hear otherwise. I also left it with a 1 degree heating and cooling leeway.
