WH1436A

I purchased this controller back in 2018 to keep some new chicks warm. I have used it several times since then for that purpose. I am setting it up again for the same job and realized I never gave a review. Positive Features: * It allows you to set a low and high threshold allowing one to keep the temperature in the desired range. * It has both a high and low alarm feature, which alerts you if the temperature goes below or exceeds the desired temperature range. * It allows the temperature probe to be calibrated with an offset. I found my probe was accurate enough over the desired range, not requiring an offset be entered. * It can be used with both heat devices, a heat lamp in my case, and cool things. The maximum controlled power is limited (1100 w), so it would not work with a high power refrigeration unit without an additional relay. Not a problem in my case. * For cooling, it allows you to set a compressor on time to prevent rapid cycling which could be bad. * The manual, if one ignores a few typos, is detailed enough to make setting up fairly easy. Just don’t lose the manual. * It does not require wifi, does not phone home, so it does not clog up your internet connection. A very positive feature. Negative Issues: The case is yellowing slightly, which happens with this type plastic. Not a deal stopper. Would I buy it again, yes.

I used this in a greenhouse for starting heat lamps and mats. It worked 10 years before I had to get another one, so I got two. One controls greenhohse temperature and one at a different setting controls heat mats and soil temperature to start seed. They are reliable and easy to set and read.

I bought this to control the temperature of a water bath for making kefir, which ferments at 75 degrees. I use it to cycle an old slow cooker and use an old aquarium air pump for water circulation (see photo) to approximate a sous vide immersion circulator. The probe is sealed and waterproof, which allows me to submerge it in the bath to monitor temperature. I also plan to use it to cycle a space heater in an oven to proof dough, though I haven't tried this yet. Using the controller to cycle a slow cooker works for this application but isn't ideal. Because slow cookers work by heating a ceramic insert which then heats the water, the insert tends to be heated to a higher temperature then the water and continues to heat the water when power to the cooker is shut off. This causes the controller to overshoot the target temperature. If the water is already at about the target temperature it only overshoots by a small amount (for my application about a degree), but if the water is being brought up to temperature it can overshoot the target temperature by at least 5-10 degrees. So if you are using this as a sous vide cooker for food which demands accurate temperature control, I would recommend letting the temperature stabilize before adding your food to the water bath. Or use this controller to power a small immersion water heater of the sort used for heating water in a coffee cup (make sure to select one which uses less power than the controller's maximum power output rating). Since an immersion heater heats the water instead of the insert and does not "store" as much heat as a slow cooker ceramic insert, it will not continue to heat the water when it's turned off. This is what commercial sous vide circulators use to heat water, and they circulate the water to prevent a "hot spot" immediately around the heating element. Beyond that, the temperature measured by the controller is accurate to within a degree of what's measured by my kitchen thermometers, the controller is easy to set up, and the instruction sheet is adequate. The on/off temperatures can be adjusted in increments of a tenth of a degree, so even though it's not a PID controller it can still accurately control temperature under the right circumstances. This is a nice tool, but to get good results from it you have to have an understanding of the environment in which it's being used.

Worked well for several years. "Fuse"/thermal circuit protection button starts to deactivate frequently. These components tend to get more sensitive over time (possibly by design). I am looking into repairing this particular component myself. Most of the other electrical parts seem to be of good quality.

I purchased this unit to assist me in operating a home built smoker. I operate two 400 watt heating elements with it. I've found the directions to be concise although somewhat confusing but once the high and low temperatures are set and the temperature probe is in place the unit operates perfectly.

I am using this item to control the temperature in a confined space for brewing, spore growth and seed starting and it works very well indeed. It comes with good instructions and there is access to a video on u-tube if they are inadequate. I have been able to maintain a good solid temperature range and am very pleased with this product.

I use it to convert my 3.8 cf chest freezer into a fridge. Allows me to set the power on at 4c and off at -1c. Works flawlessly

very good product , I was able to convert my freezer to a fridge, this was done to chill my chickens for 5 days before freezing them

Excellent