"Control cube" temp controller

[BamaPhil]

I just scored a fridge off CraigsList and modified (i.e. hacked at the inside of the door) it to fit a carboy.

Now I need a temp controller. The problem is I am one of the least handy people on the planet, I barely know which end of the hammer to hold. I've done a lot of searching on here and all the "look how easy it is to wire this controller" threads are pretty meaningless to me.

So I need either A) Wiring 101 education to go along with wiring a new controller or B) an inexpensive plug-and-play controller.

I may have found what I'm looking for but wanted to run it by here first. Anybody used one of these or otherwise have an opinion?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Temperature-Controller-for-Heating-and-Cooling-Beer-Wine-Cheese-Sous-Vide-/151313032780?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item233af5a64c

 

[MindenMan]

That controller looks pretty good. It is less expensive than the Johnson controller, and, it handles both hot and cold. Unless the shipping costs are crazy high, go for it.

 

[Rockn_M]

That looks like a pretty good deal. Plus it is in F. If you try and make this yourself you'll probably end of spending around $40 plus the time to build it.

 

[ruger988]

Have you looked into these?

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f41/black-box-fermentation-temperature-controller-480058/

 

[BamaPhil]

Thanks for the input, I jumped on it before more HBT'ers snapped all of them up!

I did see the blackboxes after they were all sold out.

 

[BamaPhil]

A follow-up:

I'm 6 days into my first fermentation with this controller, and I'm completely satisfied. I have the prob taped to the side of my carboy (with bubble wrap insulation) and it's holding the temps dead on.

I've got it set at a 2 degree differential for 66 and both the fermometer tape and the sample I pulled today were right at 66.

I'd highly recommend this if you're looking for a plug-and-play controller. They sell them here but I got mine on ebay for cheaper: http://www.perfect-cheese.com/temperature-controller

 

[day_trippr]

For the record, that is a single-stage controller. While it can be configured to control a heater or a cooler, it cannot manage both simultaneously like other units (Ranco ETC-21000, Johnson A-419, STC-1000, Love TSS2, etc)...

Cheers!

 

[BamaPhil]

Correct, I meant to mention that. They also offer a 2 stage but for me in the southeast cooling is all I'm likely to need.




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