Fermentation Controller's Which is best

[CidahMastah]

After looking at a lot of the builds on here I believe I 100% want to go with a 2 stage controller so I can not only lager, but heat things up for belgians too.

I am hoping that people can help me out with deciding to:
1. Go for a ranco or love two stage controller
Can you please comment on what you have and if you prefer one over the other and why?
2. A few general questions about how the unit works.

Seeing the prices of the non wired units really makes me think wiring this myself makes a lot of sense.



I also assume that switching between heating and cooling on these is pretty straight forward if they come prewired and there is a chance that you would have to buy some material to set up your switch.

I am going to be starting a build using a ~4cu ft. refridge fermentation tank. I am hoping it will be well suited to maintain a fermentation space for 1-2 demi johns.

Thanks all, any thread links are appreciated.

 

[CidahMastah]

Also:

looks like there really isn't much of a price difference ($20) in wiring, I was looking at a single stage vs. a dual stage unit. Are people generally getting these 2 stage units for about $100 unwired?

This looks like the best price:
http://www.etcsupply.com/ranco-etc211000000-stage-p-105.html

 

[day_trippr]

Also:

looks like there really isn't much of a price difference ($20) in wiring, I was looking at a single stage vs. a dual stage unit. Are people generally getting these 2 stage units for about $100 unwired?

This looks like the best price:
http://www.etcsupply.com/ranco-etc211000000-stage-p-105.html

That's the best price I've seen for the Ranco dual stage unit...

Cheers!

 

[37OliveStBrews]

The dual stage controller by ranco is what I got. Best thing so far I have added that directly effects the quality of my product. Basically set it and forget it. I have it controlling an old fridge so not sure if it will lager for me but it does a fine job with ales.

 

[CidahMastah]

I have been debating getting the wired version, but the 14g vs. the 16g. Probably overkill, but I was thinking that I would use a space heater for the heating part. I know those draw a fair amount of juice.

Thanks guys - Always good to do a sanity check on price before I pull the trigger.

 

[ndsgr]

I'm a fan of the Ebay aquarium temp controller (there's a thread). $30 plus an outlet and something to mount it in (total, maybe $40-$50 total cost). Wiring is pretty straight forward. It does both heating and cooling, 2*F temp swing and compressor delay.

I have used it in my ferm fridge before and am in the process of putting it on a chest freezer.

As far as heaters, my "heater" is a 40W oven light bulb in a paint can. Worked great during the winter, but at my last place, the temps only got down to around 25 at minimum in the garage. Total cost was about $10 for the heater. New set up is in the basement, so I am confident it will work at ambient 65*.

 

[CidahMastah]

I'm a fan of the Ebay aquarium temp controller (there's a thread). $30 plus an outlet and something to mount it in (total, maybe $40-$50 total cost). Wiring is pretty straight forward. It does both heating and cooling, 2*F temp swing and compressor delay.

I have used it in my ferm fridge before and am in the process of putting it on a chest freezer.

As far as heaters, my "heater" is a 40W oven light bulb in a paint can. Worked great during the winter, but at my last place, the temps only got down to around 25 at minimum in the garage. Total cost was about $10 for the heater. New set up is in the basement, so I am confident it will work at ambient 65*.

Very cool, half the price at least so I have to check this method out - your link isn't there, can you repost? Or is it this one

 

[ndsgr]

Sorry, didn't link it, just woke up. That's the one. I don't know your electrical background, but if you just follow diagrams, you'll be good to go. Just remember that the terminals on the back of the controller are just like switches. "Hot" goes in, "Hot" comes out.

If anything, it's a good learning experience! Good luck on whatever you decide to do! Temp control rocks. No more frozen water bottles or stress.

 

[milldoggy]

I went with a love controller. I use an upright freeze and I wanted the internal light to work and I wanted a plug always on for stir plates. With the love, I was able to cut out the old thermo and wire up the love. I cut the door and installed in so I can see it from the outside. I also added three outlets where the old thermostat was on the back al. Plate. One outlet is on with the compressor, one on with the heat relay, one always on. I use a cheap har dryer as my heater. I love the love. Looks great, allowed me to make the freezer the way I wanted it. It did take about a day to cut, rewired, etc. I can send pic if you want.

 

[CidahMastah]

I went with a love controller. I use an upright freeze and I wanted the internal light to work and I wanted a plug always on for stir plates. With the love, I was able to cut out the old thermo and wire up the love. I cut the door and installed in so I can see it from the outside. I also added three outlets where the old thermostat was on the back al. Plate. One outlet is on with the compressor, one on with the heat relay, one always on. I use a cheap har dryer as my heater. I love the love. Looks great, allowed me to make the freezer the way I wanted it. It did take about a day to cut, rewired, etc. I can send pic if you want.

PLease do send a pic - I am looking into everything right now. From a ghetto-tastic build to a mean, slick machine.

I only have a small refridge to work with, so I am somewhat limited.

 

[CidahMastah]

Sorry, didn't link it, just woke up. That's the one. I don't know your electrical background, but if you just follow diagrams, you'll be good to go. Just remember that the terminals on the back of the controller are just like switches. "Hot" goes in, "Hot" comes out.

If anything, it's a good learning experience! Good luck on whatever you decide to do! Temp control rocks. No more frozen water bottles or stress.

I have very little electric experience (but the diagrams look super easy for these). I did build and wire up an electrical element and PID for my BK and HLT with the help of people on the forum though! Learned a lot, was really proud if that effort. I was more thinking that, for $20, I probably couldn't buy the wire and outlets as shown on that site - ha!

 

[nymtber]

I have $50 into my ebay controller. I am still finishing up the fermentation box, but all I have to do is hook my fridge up to it now and test it...then I can get brewing again!

I would go with the stc-1000 temperature controller off ebay, Make sure you get the 110v version! Then all you need is an outlet, grounded extension cord (or wire and a plug), Radio Shack project box, and some time. It just goes with the DIY theme here

 

[JuanMoore]

I sold my Ranco and used the money to buy a few of the E-bay aquarium controllers. I have an STC-1000 for my ferm chamber, and the cheaper single stage fahrenheit models for my keezer and HERMS control panel. The Ranco and Love controllers have higher contact ratings, but I don't need to switch anything over 10A so it doesn't really matter. I think the clean look of panel mounting the controller is much nicer than buying or building an external box type, and it also saves some money.

 

[usfmikeb]

I use the ebay controller as well, works great, very easy to assemble.

 

[MooMooBrew]

I've got both love and Ranco and Love controllers, my feedback is that Love is much more versatile, there are many more behavior options available, but with that comes much more complexity, as you can find from the many programming questions there are on the forums. Also, love controllers can be mounted in a surface much more easily, and they are much smaller.

that said, if you don't mind a dumpy mess of cables, go for the Ranco.

just my 2cents.

MooMoo

 

[Seven]

I have a single-temp Ranco for my keezer and also a dual-temp Ranco for my ferm-chamber. I haven't used the Love controllers so I can't give an opinion about those.

I got the single-temp Ranco controller (unwired) and I wired it myself. It was pretty straight-forward but somewhat tedious process because of the tight space in which you have to connect the wires.

I decided to get the dual-temp controller pre-wired because if I got the un-wired version I'd also need to buy two extension cords to wire it myself. After you add the price of two good quality extension cords and a 3/8 Romex connector to the cost of the un-wired temp-controller... it really wasn't that much more for the pre-wired controller. Plus, I would save time since I wouldn't have to spend time wiring and testing it myself.

I'd recommend the un-wired controller if you enjoy doing things yourself and the pre-wired controller if you want to save yourself some time.

 

[CidahMastah]

I have a single-temp Ranco for my keezer and also a dual-temp Ranco for my ferm-chamber. I haven't used the Love controllers so I can't give an opinion about those.

I got the single-temp Ranco controller (unwired) and I wired it myself. It was pretty straight-forward but somewhat tedious process because of the tight space in which you have to connect the wires.

I decided to get the dual-temp controller pre-wired because if I got the un-wired version I'd also need to buy two extension cords to wire it myself. After you add the price of two good quality extension cords and a 3/8 Romex connector to the cost of the un-wired temp-controller... it really wasn't that much more for the pre-wired controller. Plus, I would save time since I wouldn't have to spend time wiring and testing it myself.

I'd recommend the un-wired controller if you enjoy doing things yourself and the pre-wired controller if you want to save yourself some time.

Cool - this was my observation on cost savings. maybe if you had cords laying around (I don't)

Thanks

 

[milldoggy]

PLease do send a pic - I am looking into everything right now. From a ghetto-tastic build to a mean, slick machine.

I only have a small refridge to work with, so I am somewhat limited.

here you go

 

[CidahMastah]

very cool man - awesome set up that really can handle a lot of brew.

I just walked into a free weird refridge (a giant milk bottle). I am thinking of putting a piece of foam insulation on the front as a door and then getting the controller under wraps. The cool part is... this will hold two cornies (I think). Bad part is, there will be a ton of blow off for high gravity batches in the cornies. Right now I am toying with the idea of expanding the front part to hold a demi john... But man just putting a foam block up and adding a controller sure is tempting....