ThermoStar vs Johnson A419

Northern brewer is having a 20% off sale, and I don't want to cut into my freezer or anything in case it ever needs warranty work. Which one is more recommended I'm thinking the Johnson due to its track record, but the ThermoStar just looks so flashy. They're both the same price.....

 

I have the A419 and it works like a champ. I also went with the Johnson Controls for it's track record.

 

Thank so! I'm leaning towards the A419.

 

Isn't the thermostar a dual-stage controller? That would be enough to make my decision. I had a Johnson A419, and it worked very well. My only problem with it was that it was a single-stage unit. I subsequently went the STC-1000 route...more work but cheaper and more useful to me.

 

What does dual-stage do? I'm just worried about the quality of the ThermoStar since the Johnson has such a long track record... But northern brewer has good customer service from what I hear

 

Dual stage means that it can control a cooling unit as well as a heating one. This is useful for people like me that have their equipment in the garage with big temp swings. Most of the time I need cooling, but I also need heating...sometimes in the same day. Single stage would require manually changing from heating to cooling. Dual stage makes the switch on its own

 

Thanks so much for your help btw. That does sound like it will come in handy eventually if I decide to use my controller for fermentation.... I'm just now wondering which will be more reliable the Johnson or ThermoStar

 

yeah, living in FL I got plenty of heat. It's the cool I need so the A419 is perfect.
I would probably try that Thermostar if I needed a dual stage controller though.

 

Do you just get one of the electric fermenter heaters and plug it up to it?

 

Ended up going with the A419 I didn't like how the fridge would need to be plugged directly to the ThermoStar unit which could make it awkward to sit it somewhere.