Remote heating/cooling controllers

[Maylar]

I'm looking for a temperature controller that will transmit via either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. I'm primarily interested in just monitoring temp, not necessarily setting it. I have a couple Inkbird's but they require me to go to the brew room and have a look-see. What's out there?

 

[keystonehb]

If you're just looking to monitor, something like the tilt can do that as well as tell you current gravity. They only have bluetooth connectivity but you can use something like an old phone or a Pi it can connect to wifi via that. I use that for my lager fermentation and it works well.

 

[day_trippr]

If one is already familiar with Inkbird controllers there is their ITC-308-WIFI to consider...

Cheers!

 

[Maylar]

If you're just looking to monitor, something like the tilt can do that as well as tell you current gravity.

I have a Tilt but it's not made for small carboys. I'll have to take a better look, since it's temp that I'm interested in.

 

[mac_1103]

I have used a run-of-the-mill wi-fi meat thermometer to collect fermentation temperature data. Probe taped to the FV.

 

[Kickass]

https://www.amazon.com/Temperature-...2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

I run the Inkbird itc-312. They were doing a free trial on here not too long ago. They may still have that going on.

Here’s the link. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/thread...sting-in-december❗%EF%B8%8F❗%EF%B8%8F.734898/

 

[Bobby_M]

The Rapt controller is the current hot stuff. WAY better than the Inkbird WIFI. About twice the price, but you'll appreciate where the money went. https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tempcontrolrapt.htm

 

[Brewer Mike]

The Rapt controller is the current hot stuff. WAY better than the Inkbird WIFI. About twice the price, but you'll appreciate where the money went. https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tempcontrolrapt.htm

Inkbird could make theirs much better with software improvements. It's such a PIA if you want to ramp up the temp, say, 1 degree every 12 hours to hit a Diacetyl rest at the end of fermentation. Or, ramp down slowly for a cold crash.

 

[Brewer Mike]

If one is already familiar with Inkbird controllers there is their ITC-308-WIFI to consider...

Cheers!

They also have the ITC-312 that's Bluetooth 5 for about $10 less. They claim 100m distance, but I'd bet that's under laboratory conditions.

 

[mac_1103]

They also have the ITC-312 that's Bluetooth 5 for about $10 less.

Apples to apples: the ITC-308 WiFi is $35 on Amazon right now. The ITC-312 is $38.69.

They claim 100m distance, but I'd bet that's under laboratory conditions.

I got the 312 on their recent free test. The Bluetooth worked fine for me in my house but I didn't try to measure the actual distance. Phone loses the connection when I go out of course, but I never had an issue reconnecting and accessing the stored data.

 

[Bobby_M]

Inkbird could make theirs much better with software improvements. It's such a PIA if you want to ramp up the temp, say, 1 degree every 12 hours to hit a Diacetyl rest at the end of fermentation. Or, ramp down slowly for a cold crash.

Yeah, that's why the Rapt is worth every penny if it's in the budget.

 

[Bobby_M]

Apples to apples: the ITC-308 WiFi is $35 on Amazon right now.

Yeah, I love how that's less than a dollar more than I paid for them at "wholesale" at 100 units. It leaves me -3% profit after I pay for a shipping box.

 

[VTMongoose]

Yeah, that's why the Rapt is worth every penny if it's in the budget.

I love mine. I used it to do an automated three-step fermentation schedule on my current Hefeweizen. The control is very tight and if I played with my fridge and hysteresis settings more I'm sure I could make it even better.

 

[mac_1103]

I love how that's less than a dollar more than I paid for them at "wholesale" at 100 units. It leaves me -3% profit after I pay for a shipping box.

Sorry. Didn't intend to recommend Amazon or anything. Just wanted to point out that the previous post was comparing a discounted price at one site to a non-discounted price at another.

I don't really get why Inkbird would let you sell their products only to turn around and undercut you on price through their own Amazon store.

 

[Deadalus]

If you are not at all wanting it to control anything, there are cheaper temperature monitors that are bluetooth and/or wifi. I've got two Govee's that were inexpensive, about hockey puck size. Finding one with a probe is a little harder. I have an Inkbird like that but honestly I hate the Inkbird app. They've run through several iterations. I've switched to testing out BN-Link controllers and they were more plug and play. Are you sure you don't want a controller?

 

[lumpher]

I run the Inkbird itc-312. They were doing a free trial on here not too long ago. They may still have that going on.

Here’s the link. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8Ffree%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8Finkbird-invitation-for-free-product-testing-in-december%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8F.734898/

I use the 312 from the free trial too. It's really nice. Never tried it from more than about 60 feet, but no problem there. Their promo ended in early December, but they're always coming out with new products and offer free trials here pretty often.

 

[Bobby_M]

Sorry. Didn't intend to recommend Amazon or anything. Just wanted to point out that the previous post was comparing a discounted price at one site to a non-discounted price at another.

I don't really get why Inkbird would let you sell their products only to turn around and undercut you on price through their own Amazon store.

No, don't get me wrong. I'm not blaming you. Just venting frustrations adjacent to your post.

 

[Maylar]

Are you sure you don't want a controller?

Not really sure, but I don't think it'll be necessary. I'll be making a 3 gallon batch (not beer) that will use a yeast with a rather limited recommended temperature range of 70-75°F. My experience with the Inkbirds is that they can do that reliably, but I'd like to be able to keep tabs on it without having to go down stairs to the brew room (I'm handicapped) just to check temp. I have a Tilt Mini Pro that works very well in a bucket but the small mouth of a glass carboy will pose a problem. I suppose that I could use a bucket for primary and rack to the 3 gallon when appropriate, but hey - another toy for the hobby won't break the bank -

 

[Deadalus]

Not really sure, but I don't think it'll be necessary. I'll be making a 3 gallon batch (not beer) that will use a yeast with a rather limited recommended temperature range of 70-75°F. My experience with the Inkbirds is that they can do that reliably, but I'd like to be able to keep tabs on it without having to go down stairs to the brew room (I'm handicapped) just to check temp. I have a Tilt Mini Pro that works very well in a bucket but the small mouth of a glass carboy will pose a problem. I suppose that I could use a bucket for primary and rack to the 3 gallon when appropriate, but hey - another toy for the hobby won't break the bank -

Steady temperature control is a game changer in my opinion. If you aren't able to control the temperature the ability to replicate the recipe is compromised. Keep in mind too that yeast activity will increase the temperature a few degrees. Given your desire for remote monitoring, a wifi temperature controller would be a good choice You can monitor it and change the temperature as needed.

If the Tilt Mini Pro doesn't fit in a glass carboy, there are plastic 3 gallon carboys that have wider mouths (#10 stopper). They are lighter than glass too. Plus other styles for 3 gallons, I picked up some SS Brewtech minibuckets recently for instance. They are lightweight with two handles and a rotating pickup tube on the valve. It's nice to have a drain on the fermenter for transfering.

 

[mac_1103]

My experience with the Inkbirds is that they can do that reliably, but I'd like to be able to keep tabs on it without having to go down stairs to the brew room (I'm handicapped) just to check temp.

If you're happy with the non-WiFi Inkbirds that you already have, then you could just get a WiFi (or Bluetooth) thermometer and monitor separately from controlling. But I'm not sure that would actually save you all that much money compared to just getting a new WiFi temperature controller.

 

[Brewer Mike]

Just wanted to point out that the previous post was comparing a discounted price at one site to a non-discounted price at another.

FWIW - I wasn't trying to be deceptive. I just compared the 312 to the price of the one Day Tripper linked to.

 

[mac_1103]

I wasn't trying to be deceptive

I didn't think you were. Regardless, it wasn't a fair price comparison.

 

[Lalo_uy]

Have you considered BrewPiLess?

 

[Maylar]

I picked up some SS Brewtech minibuckets recently for instance. They are lightweight with two handles

Oooooh, sweeeeet lol. Got me looking at a 3.2 gallon Speidel, too. Hmmm - the extra head space would give me 3 full gallons when I rack for aging, and my Tilt would fit fine. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[Deadalus]

Oooooh, sweeeeet lol. Got me looking at a 3.2 gallon Speidel, too. Hmmm - the extra head space would give me 3 full gallons when I rack for aging, and my Tilt would fit fine. Thanks for the ideas.

Anvil and Delta Brewing Systems also have similar 4 gallon fermenters.