AC power also doesn't really have polarity, so either power wire can go to either 1 or 2. The temp sensor is also non-polarized.
STC 1000 "Ebay" Temperature Controller Build
- Thread starter fermentednonsense
- Start date
Help Support Homebrew Talk:
collinsDPT
Well-Known Member
Bought 2 of these on Amazon last week and just assembled them today. As you can see, I installed one to the back and one to the front of the project boxes.
Awesome info on here and they both work like a charm. Now I just need a batch to ferment/keg!!
Awesome info on here and they both work like a charm. Now I just need a batch to ferment/keg!!
highgravitybacon
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2012
- Messages
- 925
- Reaction score
- 224
I made one of these the other day too. $40 here, $20 there, a closet full of equipment. Wasn't this supposed to save me money, brewing my own beer?
alien
Well-Known Member
Yes, Amazon is cheaper than ebay for the STC-1000 right now, and ships out of the USA instead of China.
Are those the 8" x 6" x 3" project enclosures from Radio Shack? They look great.
Are those the 8" x 6" x 3" project enclosures from Radio Shack? They look great.
Garyr2973
Well-Known Member
BiteSize
Active Member
I am going to build two controllers for a fermentation chamber build I am about to undertake. Has anyone wired in computer fans to the controller such that the fan will turn on when either the cool or heat receptacle is powered on. Essentially I want the fan to run while temp controls are engaged and to be off when temps are steady. Any thoughts?
![Craft A Brew - Safale BE-256 Yeast - Fermentis - Belgian Ale Dry Yeast - For Belgian & Strong Ales - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [3 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bcKEwQmWL._SL500_.jpg)
You could do it with two cell phone chargers and some diodes using one fan, or you could use a separate cell phone charger and fan on each of the heating and cooling circuits. Easier, I think, would be to have the fan on at all times. That way works for me and holds temperatures very steady.
BiteSize
Active Member
It has crossed my mind to just have them run continuously, however, I want to minimize wear on the fans as much as a I can. I suppose if they die it would be easy enough to pop new ones in. Cheers!
JuanMoore
Getting the banned back together
In most ferm chambers the heating or cooling is only on a small fraction of the time. Running a fan for only those very short periods isn't going to do anything to prevent temp stratification, which I'd assume is why you want a fan in there.
I would just run it all of the time. I have a computer fan that has been running for the last 9 years, wear is not important.
alien
Well-Known Member
That's right, the fans are brushless so there's nothing really to wear out.
BiteSize
Active Member
Fair enough. I'll just run them continuously.
alien
Well-Known Member
JuanMoore
Getting the banned back together
br3ds0x said:
Depends on the ambient temps where he term fridge will be. If it's somewhere like a garage where ambient temps will get down below your desired ferm temp, then you'll need a heat source. The light bulb in a paint can is cheap and works well.
fermentednonsense
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2011
- Messages
- 414
- Reaction score
- 20
Glad to see this thread is still kicking. I just convinced my friend to order it, and he doesn't even have a single keg yet.
ja09
Well-Known Member
Just got mine wired. Thanks to all in this and the other stc1000 thread for the tips on getting it up and running.
Don't know if I'd want to mount one in a flammable container, but that's pretty damn cool.
...a couple screws on mine have come loose on their own, that's why I say that
vNmd
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Messages
- 704
- Reaction score
- 173
Don't know if I'd want to mount one in a flammable container, but that's pretty damn cool.
...a couple screws on mine have come loose on their own, that's why I say that
Thanks. I was actually wondering about the wood thing. I have done two stir plates in the same boxes, but they have far less juice going into them. If people think it is dangerous I can move the innards to something metal. I just had loads of these boxes sitting around and don't know any better.
JoppaFarms
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2012
- Messages
- 378
- Reaction score
- 31
If you have an in-line fuse (like you should) you have nothing to worry about.
Kinda an off the wall question/thought. I have been using my ferm chamber for about 6 months now. I am also aging some beers and wine(in carboys) in the chamber. It occurred to me (unless I am mistaken) as Co2 fills the chamber it should help protect my aging stuff right?
ja09
Well-Known Member
It can still spark with a fuse or breaker. Just not a good practice
JoppaFarms
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2012
- Messages
- 378
- Reaction score
- 31
Sure, and just about any material is flammable to some point. A cigar box should be fine. I wouldn't worry about it. Just do it right the first time.
ja09
Well-Known Member
The flammability of an old dried out cigar box versus an electrical junction box are a bit different
And doing it right the first time doesn't mean anything when you're working with cheap unreliable screw terminals on the stc1000.
JoppaFarms
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2012
- Messages
- 378
- Reaction score
- 31
The flammability of an old dried out cigar box versus an electrical junction box are a bit different
This is true
BUT! Who uses an electrical junction box for this project? Seems a bit overkill to me (and it doesn't look as cool as the cigar box). Just keep an eye on your connections every now and then and make sure nothing is shorting out. Cheers to innovation.
fuzzy2133
Well-Known Member
The flammability of an old dried out cigar box versus an electrical junction box are a bit different
I have been trying to think of a liner that could go in the box and make a little more fire resistant. Fiberglass can be time consuming and the other options are too $$$.
Check your smoke detectors function and go with it.
I have been trying to think of a liner that could go in the box and make a little more fire resistant. Fiberglass can be time consuming and the other options are too $$$.
Check your smoke detectors function and go with it.
There's a thin lining called formex made for this type of thing. It's a flame retardand polypropylene which you can cut to shape. itwformex.com
Epimetheus
Well-Known Member
The wooden box is probably OK, just not my choice.
Me. I really like "overkill" safety with 120 or 240VAC. Our house was wired creatively by the previous owners. A loose screw (literally) on an outlet and all the lights went out and the offending outlet melted. We wuz lucky it stopped there.
So color me nervous. No worries. I will go with PVC or steel J-boxes designed for the purpose. A 3-gang box will fit the controller and 2 outlets. Other project housings are OK.
A proper enclosure will not stop damage from bad work, just slow it down.
This is true
Me. I really like "overkill" safety with 120 or 240VAC. Our house was wired creatively by the previous owners. A loose screw (literally) on an outlet and all the lights went out and the offending outlet melted. We wuz lucky it stopped there.
So color me nervous. No worries. I will go with PVC or steel J-boxes designed for the purpose. A 3-gang box will fit the controller and 2 outlets. Other project housings are OK.
A proper enclosure will not stop damage from bad work, just slow it down.
Just pulled the trigger on my first STC-1000 (currently $19.28 on Amazon). Going to use the above-referenced .pdf as my guide. I notice that his wiring diagram includes a 10A fuse, but his parts list does not.
What's been the general experience of other STC-1000 users? Is the fuse needed? No?
I will be using this in my ferm chamber (an old top freezer/bottom fridge refrigerator). The outlet I have the current analog controller and fridge plugged into is a GFI, if that makes a difference.
Full disclosure. The fridge is very old and does have a loose or bare wire somewhere. If there is too much other load on the circuit, it's been known to trip the GFI. For the most part though, it operates fine in my garage as a ferm chamber when I have a batch going, and beer cooler when I do not.
