what's the advantage of the tempmate over the stc-1000? It's a big price difference and they seem to do the same thing..
As an owner of both...
TempMate is *far* more user friendly. Probe seems more robust too.
A TempMate won't reset its compressor delay timer just because you diddle the settings, STC will. This is a tick to the tempmate.
TempMate will switch the power outputs as you change the temp setting up and down. STC will only once you save the setting. And with the STC the compressor delay timer is then reset. With the TempMate if your compressor has already been off, it will come on immediately.
TempMate you connect the earth wire. Dunno if that makes it earthed
TempMate is 20A, STC is 10A
STC-1000 you can turn the device off by holding down the power button. TempMate you might want to fit a power switch.
The STC probe is rubber-plastic. The TempMate is a round metal nub. Both work in BeerBelly Fermenter Thermowells, but I suspect the metal on metal nature of the tempmates is better.
STCs are smaller.
TempMates seem better built.
Personally I prefer the TempMate but its 80$ vs 20$. Is it 4x better? Don't think so.