STC 1000 cool outlet not working. Help!

[tcd2004]

I just finished putting together a stc1000 temperature controller and the cold outlet is not functioning. I have an outlet tester and when the heat light kicks on, the outlet tester lights up when plugged into the heat outlet. However, when the cool light is on I am getting nothing. I have double checked my wiring and even replaced the wiring to no different result. Also, when the heat kicks on, there is a click. When the cool switches on, I hear nothing. I'm not sure if that is normal or not. I also switched the heat to the opposite outlet to make sure that both outlets function properly, and it worked fine so I know the outlet is good. I did break off the gold tab on the hot side of the outlet. Here is a picture of the wiring and the wiring diagram I followed.

I also have a multimeter, although I'm not entirely sure where to place the positive and negative contacts. So if someone could advise me on that, I could test it with a multimeter as well. Thank you for the help!

 

[timpoulsen]

Hard to see for sure but appears you didn't break off the tab between each outlet to separate the heat/cool hot inputs.

 

[tcd2004]

Here is a close up of the bridge. The bottom tab is plastic which I'm assuming stays. It's a Leviton 20a outlet and on the box it shows just breaking off the brass piece for separate feeds. Also, with testing the outlet with an outlet tester they seem to be operating independently. When the heat side comes on only the top outlet will make the tester light up.

 

[jjefrey]

Did you break the tab on the neutral side as well?

Your diagram only shows one leg to the line in. If you broke the tab that could cause the problem.

 

[opqdan]

As you aren;t hearing the relay click, I doubt your wiring is the culprit. Most likely the "problem" is the compressor delay.

An STC-1000 will only turn on the cool side after the compressor delay (F3 I think?) passes. If this value is set to 10 minutes (for example), then the cooling outlet will not turn on until 10 minutes after the STC-1000 is powered on regardless of the temperature reading. This prevents cycling the power to the STC-1000 from cycling the compressor too quickly.

Check your delay value, and then make sure the controller clicks after that period. Also, the cooling light should blink if it needs to cool, but is waiting for the delay. The directions that came with the unit should provide more detail.

 

[tcd2004]

Did you break the tab on the neutral side as well?

Your diagram only shows one leg to the line in. If you broke the tab that could cause the problem.

Sorry, I couldn't get a picture of the bottom since it was already installed. The neutral side tab is not broken.

 

[Malted_hops]

You should hear a click when the cool cycle turns on, at least mine does. You can check it with the multimeter. Be sure it's set to test AC voltage, on probe to terminal 8 and one to the neutral. During a heat cycle, #6 and neutral will be hot so you can check your meter

 

[tcd2004]

As you aren;t hearing the relay click, I doubt your wiring is the culprit. Most likely the "problem" is the compressor delay.

An STC-1000 will only turn on the cool side after the compressor delay (F3 I think?) passes. If this value is set to 10 minutes (for example), then the cooling outlet will not turn on until 10 minutes after the STC-1000 is powered on regardless of the temperature reading. This prevents cycling the power to the STC-1000 from cycling the compressor too quickly.

Check your delay value, and then make sure the controller clicks after that period. Also, the cooling light should blink if it needs to cool, but is waiting for the delay. The directions that came with the unit should provide more detail.

I set the compressor delay to 1 minute for testing purposes. The light will blink and then when it goes steady, I still am getting nothing. No click or light up on my outlet tester.

 

[b-boy]

Could be a bad STC1000.

Have you ever powered it up and let it sit for a while? It might fix itself. I've had a similar issue with mine. When I power down the STC1000 and bring it back up, it will sometimes not click to cool or heat. The first time this happened I thought it got fried. If I let it sit for a half hour or so it seems to fix itself. I'm guessing it could be some type of start-up cycle/delay.

 

[skunkfunk]

My money's on a bad relay in the STC-1000.

 

[tcd2004]

Well I guess the plus side is I wired it correctly, downside is now I have to wait for a replacement. Luckily I ordered through Amazon so it shouldn't be too difficult.

I will let it sit to see if anything happens, but I should hear the relay click when the cool light stops blinking and turns solid correct? And just to confirm, nobody sees anything wrong with my wiring?

 

[skunkfunk]

I bet you could replace the relay with this.

Maybe?

 

[timpoulsen]

Looks fine as long as you left the tab intact on the neutral side of the outlet.

 

[tcd2004]

I bet you could replace the relay with this.

Maybe?

Can't say I'm qualified to do all that, thanks though.

Can someone confirm that the cool relay should "click" on when the light goes from blinking to solid? I heard a click when the heat went off and the cool light started to blink, but I'm assuming the click I heard was from the heat shutting off.

 

[tcd2004]

Looks fine as long as you left the tab intact on the neutral side of the outlet.

Just double checked and it is intact. Both neutral screws should be occupied correct? I have one going from terminal two to the top neutral screw, and then the neutral wire from the main power cord going to the bottom neutral screw. And if my wiring was off from the main power cord, wouldn't it not work at all?

 

[jekeane]

In the two guides that I used to build my controller only 1 neutral is used. http://loudmouthbrewer.wordpress.co...iagram-with-indicator-lights/#jp-carousel-529

the other one i just screwed down.

 

[jekeane]

In the two guides that I used to build my controller only 1 neutral is used. http://loudmouthbrewer.wordpress.co...iagram-with-indicator-lights/#jp-carousel-529

the other one i just screwed down.

 

[user 125772]

My money's on a bad relay in the STC-1000.

X2 on Skunk's diagnosis ...these things are great little devices , and they're dirt cheap , but I'm not too confident about their reliability. (I keep a spare in the workshop, JIC )

 

[tcd2004]

Thanks for all of the replies so far. I will have my replacement unit today, so I will get it all wired up and let you know what happens.

Am I correct in the way I wired the neutrals or should I use one neutral connection on the plug like jekeane suggested?

 

[user 163849]

Thanks for all of the replies so far. I will have my replacement unit today, so I will get it all wired up and let you know what happens.

Am I correct in the way I wired the neutrals or should I use one neutral connection on the plug like jekeane suggested?

Yes, if I understand how you have your neutral wired, it is fine. In fact the way you wired it eliminated a wire nut and a short pig tail while providing a connection that is more secure both mechanically and electrically. Wire nuts are historically more trouble prone than screw terminals.

 

[skunkfunk]

Thanks for all of the replies so far. I will have my replacement unit today, so I will get it all wired up and let you know what happens.

Am I correct in the way I wired the neutrals or should I use one neutral connection on the plug like jekeane suggested?

It doesn't matter. Tie all the neutrals together if you want.

 

[tcd2004]

I just wanted to give everyone an update on my STC1000 build. I received my new controller in the mail today (thanks Amazon one day shipping for 3.99) and just finished wiring everything up again. I now have a working temp controller! Both hot and cold outlets function as they should and everything seems to be working as it should. Here are some pictures of my completed build. Thanks to everyone who helped!

 

[gatomalo]

tcd - I am having the same problem... confirmed that the heat side works, checked the compressor delays, and i'm not getting anything on the cold side.

did you get a refund on the controller from Amazon, or did you simply eat the $15?

 

[Ian Hodge]

As you aren;t hearing the relay click, I doubt your wiring is the culprit. Most likely the "problem" is the compressor delay.

An STC-1000 will only turn on the cool side after the compressor delay (F3 I think?) passes. If this value is set to 10 minutes (for example), then the cooling outlet will not turn on until 10 minutes after the STC-1000 is powered on regardless of the temperature reading. This prevents cycling the power to the STC-1000 from cycling the compressor too quickly.

Check your delay value, and then make sure the controller clicks after that period. Also, the cooling light should blink if it needs to cool, but is waiting for the delay. The directions that came with the unit should provide more detail.

That solved my problem nicely - thank you!