I can recommend against getting a Hanna Instruments stir plate. Their support is very poor given the price point. I would speculate the support is poor for a home brewer because they’re not set up to support individuals (even individuals foolish enough to spend over $1,000 on pH meters, probes, buffers and other solutions, stir plates and thermometers).
I purchased their stir plate for just over $200, a little over two years ago. A month ago, less than three months out of their two-year warranty, having only done about a dozen starters over the two years, it became defective. Long story short Hanna refused to replace or repair free of charge, and instead recommended I simply buy another stir plate from them for $220.
I’ve gone with the new Kegland one instead, for a fraction of the price, and will share my initial impressions here when I’ve done a starter on it (this weekend assuming it arrives on Friday). This model does not have the heater function, but as others have said, heating is not necessary if you are able to keep the starter inside your house and the temperature is not crazy cold.
I purchased their stir plate for just over $200, a little over two years ago. A month ago, less than three months out of their two-year warranty, having only done about a dozen starters over the two years, it became defective. Long story short Hanna refused to replace or repair free of charge, and instead recommended I simply buy another stir plate from them for $220.
I’ve gone with the new Kegland one instead, for a fraction of the price, and will share my initial impressions here when I’ve done a starter on it (this weekend assuming it arrives on Friday). This model does not have the heater function, but as others have said, heating is not necessary if you are able to keep the starter inside your house and the temperature is not crazy cold.