ebay aquarium temp controller build

[Flomaster]

after getting my unit I have realized that my box from Radio Shack is MUCH larger than I need, I wonder if I can take it back with out receipt and exchange for a smaller box

-=Jason=-

 

[Bjornbrewer]

Just remember that this thing does dissipate some heat...don't pack it too tightly.


Chocolate tempering? Not sure what that is (is that fancy for "melting"?), but I like the creativity!

 

[originalben]

Bjorn, thanks for all the info.
The tabs are broken and the unit was plugged into a high use area outlet, although I had not yet plugged anything into the unit's outlets. Lower load outlet next time.

Going to wrap up a couple presents for SWMBO and then get back to the controller.
Thanks again for taking the time to help, it's truly appreciated.

 

[Bjornbrewer]

you broke off both tabs? not necessary...just the hot. Not a big deal, you just have to make sure the neutrals are tied back together somehow.

No problem, Ben...that's what we're all here for!

 

[djc]

Are you plugging the fridge into the outlet from this controller? And are you modifying the refridgerator in any way?

 

[BrewSpook]

Chocolate tempering? Not sure what that is (is that fancy for "melting"?), but I like the creativity!

Yeah its keeping the chocolate at a low temp (82-90 degrees F) melted, but low enough to keep crystaline structures formed in the right chain. Makes chocolate shiny and hard.

Its what they use to dip truffles and make other chocolates.

 

[Bjornbrewer]

Are you plugging the fridge into the outlet from this controller? And are you modifying the refridgerator in any way?

Yes. no. You can just plug the fridge in and away you go...instead of the internal t-stat controlling the temp, you're essentially plugging and unplugging the fridge via the controller.

 

[ShakerD]

I just built two of these and they work great!

Where are you guys putting the probe? Is it water proof?

Cheers

 

[brettwasbtd]

I just built two of these and they work great!

Where are you guys putting the probe? Is it water proof?

Cheers

I taped the probe on my carboy - covered with some bubble wrap. My fermometer is reading between 62 and 64 Farenheit and the temp controller is showing 17.2 celsius (63 F) so I'd say it is right on!

 

[wyzazz]

+1, that's what I do as well.

 

[originalben]

This high falutin' decade old Walgreen's heating pad has an auto off feature and keeps cutting off before bringing the filled carboy to it's target temp.

I assume there are heating pads without an auto off I could buy, just was hoping to make this as scavenger/low cost as possible a project.

What type of heating elements are you guys using?
If a light bulb, where and how is it placed in the fermenting chamber?

Adding a couple pics...just because

 

[Flomaster]

some guys are using those ceramic heating lights used for reptiles it doesn't output any light just heat. you just plug it into the "heat" plug of your controller if you bought the dual stage heat/Cool controller.
Ebay
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...eramic+heat+emitter&_sacat=See-All-Categories
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...s&field-keywords=ceramic+heat+emitter&x=0&y=0


-=Jason=-

 

[originalben]

with the reptile heater bulbs or maybe something wired to the inside of the fridge/fermenter like this?...

 

[cranium213]

Another option which I am using is to put this small heater into the fridge wired into the heating side of the controller. Since I have my controller mounted into the door of my fermentation fridge I just ran the heating wires down to an outlet box that I plug this heater into and it works perfectly to maintain the temperature, plus this thing is only 200 watts so you don't have to worry about drawing too much power or getting too hot in the fridge.

 

[originalben]

but the problem seems to be that when the unit reaches the target temp and power cuts off, it resets to off...so that when it gets power again it's at the 'ready' state but not actually on.

 

[wyzazz]

Sounds like you need a different heater, or you need to take this one apart to hardwire the power.

 

[cranium213]

Another question is do you have the temperature set to the maximum so that when it is powered it will always turn on (this is how I have it set)?

 

[wyzazz]

My guess is that it has a momentary push button switch to make it active.

 

[originalben]

No matter what setting it's on, if it loses power, when it comes back on it is at the ready but not in whatever setting it was on when it lost power. It's a handy little heater, so I think I'll use it around the house and go with the ceramic reptile bulb method.

I made a little fan box out of an old computer power supply to move the air around, but where should the bulb be located?
Since heat rises, I assume at the bottom?
I would probably need to replace the plastic shelf with some unlikely to melt.

 

[truckmann]

In that small of a space it doesn't really matter where you mount the bulb. I used to have a similar setup with a ceramic bulb mounted near the top and a computer fan to circulate the air. Actually I had 2 bulbs just because I got 2 for the price of one, but that was probably over kill. Keeping temp in the fridge all winter long was not a problem.

 

[Hermit]

It just occurred to me that since my fridge has a defrost timer I could wire the heating circuit to one side of the controller and the cooling side to the other and just wire the internal fan to run 100% of the time. Heating might not work reliably without jumping out the defrost thermostat though...

Hmmm........

 

[big_al_in_k-zoo]

Wanting to do this build. Just want to make sure I order the right controller since most of the links are dead.

http://cgi.ebay.com/All-purpose-Tem...849?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3363a7d649

Is this the correct unit? The dual stage to heat and cool?

It says it's 250vac. Is it safe to use in 110v?

If not, PLEASE post link to the appropriate controller. Thanks!

 

[elserpien]

Wanting to do this build. Just want to make sure I order the right controller since most of the links are dead.

http://cgi.ebay.com/All-purpose-Tem...849?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3363a7d649

Is this the correct unit? The dual stage to heat and cool?

It says it's 250vac. Is it safe to use in 110v?

If not, PLEASE post link to the appropriate controller. Thanks!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Temperature-Controller-Thermostat-Aquarium-120-C-/280607864035?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41558834e3
This is the one you want, I have purchased 3 from this seller.

 

[wyzazz]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Temperature-Controller-Thermostat-Aquarium-120-C-/280607864035?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41558834e3
This is the one you want, I have purchased 3 from this seller.

Nope, that's the single-stage. You want this one.

 

[big_al_in_k-zoo]

Thanks, Wyzazz

 

[jblizz]

Just bought one from the same guy and finished the build over the weekend, whole process went very smooth except I couldn't get the 8" project box from the Radio Shack stores I had to order it online which added to the cost...

 

[wood7588]

I am using my temp controller in a 15cft chest freezer and as getto as it sounds, all I need to maintain the temperature is a $10 walmart hairdryer on the low setting. The freezer was holding 67 degrees in the garage which is around 40 degrees with no problems. Best part of it is that it has a built in GFCI on it.

 

[big_al_in_k-zoo]

Bought the Project box, outlet, wire's today! Just ordered the controller from Ebay. Hope it doesn't take FOREVER to get here. Probably will. =(

 

[lowark]

I ordered mine on the 16th and it was delivered yesterday. Not bad considering the holiday.

 

[Flomaster]

yeah mine arrived much quicker than I remember when I ordered direct from Hong Kong in the past.

-=Jason=-