National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: McMelloW on November 24, 2015, 02:46:57 PM

Title: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: McMelloW on November 24, 2015, 02:46:57 PM
On HomeBrewTalk I found this thread. http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=556443
I send them a mail and I get one for less then €9,- delivered at my home. Anybody interested? Send Inkbird an PM from HomeBrewTalk.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: dcalnan on November 25, 2015, 07:51:21 PM
I remember reading a post saying that they're not wired correctly.

https://m.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/3edjhs/new_inkbird_itc308_not_wired_in_compliance_with/ (https://m.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/3edjhs/new_inkbird_itc308_not_wired_in_compliance_with/)

They may have fixed the issue since
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: McMelloW on November 25, 2015, 09:26:12 PM
This was all blew up for nothing. Is the life pin switched or the neutral.
If you have a round plug like this version.

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410eb1AAqdL.jpg)

You can plug in the plug two ways. So you never know or the life pin is at one side or the other.  It looks OK to me and sure I am going to use it
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: McMelloW on November 27, 2015, 10:14:20 PM
Some pictures of the ITC-308 EUR version I have received today.

(http://i.imgur.com/GehbZx3l.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/y0Jtk6Rl.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/sH3fb1Il.jpg)

It has the same specs as a STC-1000. No DIY needed to put in a box with wiring and sockets as with a STC-1000. It has a high and low temperature alarm as well.
For me it is an affordable alternative for an STC-1000
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Greg2013 on November 27, 2015, 10:31:51 PM
Can this run a heater and chiller at the same time or only one or the other ? ;D
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: McMelloW on November 27, 2015, 10:56:57 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on November 27, 2015, 10:31:51 PM
Can this run a heater and chiller at the same time or only one or the other ? ;D

Only one or the other.
Heating is switched on if temperature is < the setpoint.
Cooling is switched on if temperature is > the setpoint.
At setpoint everything is switched off.

See also www.ink-bird.com for detailed info.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Greg2013 on November 27, 2015, 11:15:17 PM
Quote from: McMelloW on November 27, 2015, 10:56:57 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on November 27, 2015, 10:31:51 PM
Can this run a heater and chiller at the same time or only one or the other ? ;D

Only one or the other.
Heating is switched on if temperature is < the setpoint.
Cooling is switched on if temperature is > the setpoint.
At setpoint everything is switched off.

See also www.ink-bird.com for detailed info.

STC1000 can do both and you can easily get setup for less than €20 so i don't see a huge advantage to this setup over the STC100 tbh. ;D
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: armedcor on November 27, 2015, 11:28:27 PM
Some people don't want/like to do the wiring. Plus a lot of stc controllers look seriously ghetto. These look pretty legit. Too bad I'd already ordered an ink bird stc clone.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: shweeney on November 30, 2015, 11:31:56 AM
why would you want the heater and chiller running at the same time?
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: cruiscinlan on November 30, 2015, 12:12:37 PM
Does it have a timing function on it?  I'm just wondering if you could use it to run a step mash through a hot water heater.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: McMelloW on November 30, 2015, 03:05:30 PM
Quote from: cruiscinlan on November 30, 2015, 12:12:37 PM
Does it have a timing function on it?  I'm just wondering if you could use it to run a step mash through a hot water heater.
No it hasen't got a timer function. If you need to do automatic step mashing, you have to build an Open ArdBir or something similar
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: marinali29 on December 14, 2015, 03:01:48 AM
Hi,

This one is stronger than STC-1000. 1, there's just F display with STC, both C and F display with ITC-308. And there's differences. Heating and cooling, for example, you set target 20 degree C,HD(heating differential value) 3C, CD(cooling differential value ) 2C, PT(compressor delay) 2 mins. The controller will heat if temp reach 23C,cool when temp drop below 18C, note than when it was on PT, it will stop working, just to protect your device. Also, there're high/low temp alarm. ;D ;D

Quote from: Greg2013 on November 27, 2015, 10:31:51 PM
Can this run a heater and chiller at the same time or only one or the other ? ;D
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: imark on December 14, 2015, 11:20:23 AM
You're incorrect about STC1000 being only F. Mine is set to C.
It also has similar setting parameters but not alarms as far (as I know) .
Title: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Leann ull on December 14, 2015, 01:32:19 PM
Stc has a better wait time of up to 10 mins to save compressor
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: armedcor on December 14, 2015, 02:46:51 PM
They did a give away for the UK plug version last week on HBT. Managed to nab one. Looking forward to getting it.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Garry on December 14, 2015, 03:39:30 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on November 27, 2015, 11:15:17 PM
Quote from: McMelloW on November 27, 2015, 10:56:57 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on November 27, 2015, 10:31:51 PM
Can this run a heater and chiller at the same time or only one or the other ? ;D

Only one or the other.....

STC1000 can do both....

I think your getting confused there Greg? The STC will only do one or the other too. For example, it won't send power to a heat source and a cooling source at the same time. That would be pointless!

@marinali29, welcome to the forum. It appears you have a vested interest in the ITC-308. We welcome your replies to direct questions but can you please refrain from plugging your product in an informal way.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: McMelloW on December 14, 2015, 03:41:20 PM
Quote from: CH on December 14, 2015, 01:32:19 PM
Stc has a better wait time of up to 10 mins to save compressor
The ITC-308 has the same spec as the STC-1000 plus two alarms.  Delay time for the compressor can set between 0-10 mins on the ITC-308
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: DEMPSEY on December 14, 2015, 06:30:57 PM
STC has an alarm at 100 C. I have one connected to my boil kettle and it sings away after 99 C.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Greg2013 on December 14, 2015, 07:52:34 PM
Quote from: Garry on December 14, 2015, 03:39:30 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on November 27, 2015, 11:15:17 PM
Quote from: McMelloW on November 27, 2015, 10:56:57 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on November 27, 2015, 10:31:51 PM
Can this run a heater and chiller at the same time or only one or the other ? ;D

Only one or the other.....

STC1000 can do both....

I think your getting confused there Greg? The STC will only do one or the other too. For example, it won't send power to a heat source and a cooling source at the same time. That would be pointless!

@marinali29, welcome to the forum. It appears you have a vested interest in the ITC-308. We welcome your replies to direct questions but can you please refrain from plugging your product in an informal way.

Nope not confused,obviously you cant heat and cool at exactly the same time that would be stupid. What i meant and i thought people would have realised (sorry if i didn't make clear) is that the stc1000 can switch between cooling and heating autominously both being plugged in at the same time but only one being used at a time obviously.

I have seen a few of these devices but none of them will do what the stc1000 does ie. autominously switch between heat/cooling,they will only heat and you have to vary the cooling yourself or vica versa. ;D
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: McMelloW on December 14, 2015, 09:47:37 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on December 14, 2015, 07:52:34 PM

Nope not confused,obviously you cant heat and cool at exactly the same time that would be stupid. What i meant and i thought people would have realised (sorry if i didn't make clear) is that the stc1000 can switch between cooling and heating autominously both being plugged in at the same time but only one being used at a time obviously.

I have seen a few of these devices but none of them will do what the stc1000 does ie. autominously switch between heat/cooling,they will only heat and you have to vary the cooling yourself or vica versa. ;D

ITC-308 does exactly the same. In fact an ITC-308 is redesignend and ready build STC-1000 with cabling and outlets
Title: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Leann ull on December 14, 2015, 10:19:04 PM
Ok enough plugging this bit of kit it's getting embarrassing now, currently a lot more  expensive than an stc1000 on Amazon UK in any case
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: McMelloW on December 15, 2015, 11:24:06 AM
Yes, an ITC-308 (£ 25.49) is about double of a STC-1000 (£ 12.59) both Ink Bird.

Do I want to save money and use an STC-1000. Build in a box and do the wiring to sockets. Or do I spend more and have a ready to use device.
Succes in making your choice.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Leann ull on December 15, 2015, 12:53:49 PM
STC1000's are available from China for €9 on ebay delivered, the price you mention for the ITC-308 at €35 the supplier will not deliver to Ireland so more cost with parcel motel.
I have no commercial affiliation with STC 1000 producer :P 
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Simon_ on December 15, 2015, 12:55:46 PM
Balls. Why didn't I view this thread sooner? I need to wire up another STC and my existing one is frightening looking.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Simon_ on December 15, 2015, 01:01:21 PM
Quote from: CH on December 15, 2015, 12:53:49 PM
STC1000's are available from China for €9 on ebay delivered, the price you mention for the ITC-308 at €35 the supplier will not deliver to Ireland so more cost with parcel motel.
I have no commercial affiliation with STC 1000 producer :P

STC = €9 + Additional wiring and sockets ~€5? + ~1 hour labour + risk of electrocution and you end up with something that looks shit  :)



Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: armedcor on December 15, 2015, 01:20:25 PM
They're definitely crafty bastards alright and I say that as someone whos getting a free stc-308 lol. I'd bought an inkbird stc-1000 a few weeks ago which preceded to get lost in the mail. Got my refund and everything so no harm done but received an email from Inkbird this morning offering big discounts if I pimped their product.
Title: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Leann ull on December 15, 2015, 02:09:06 PM
Quote from: armedcor on December 15, 2015, 01:20:25 PM
They're definitely crafty bastards alright and I say that as someone whos getting a free stc-308 lol. I'd bought an inkbird stc-1000 a few weeks ago which preceded to get lost in the mail. Got my refund and everything so no harm done but received an email from Inkbird this morning offering big discounts if I pimped their product.

Thankyou I thought some of those comments were a bit on the syrupy side
Ok so anybody posting obviously positive non objective comments is taking the soup shame on you
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: molc on December 15, 2015, 02:18:50 PM
Quote from: Simon_ on December 15, 2015, 01:01:21 PM
Quote from: CH on December 15, 2015, 12:53:49 PM
STC1000's are available from China for €9 on ebay delivered, the price you mention for the ITC-308 at €35 the supplier will not deliver to Ireland so more cost with parcel motel.
I have no commercial affiliation with STC 1000 producer :P

STC = €9 + Additional wiring and sockets ~€5? + ~1 hour labour + risk of electrocution and you end up with something that looks shit  :)
Sockets plus wiring aren't cheap unless you get them from an electrical provider, so I think the €5 is way off there. I'd say overall, both options work out pretty similar in cost.

I think my lunchbox STC is sexy looking though :D
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: armedcor on December 15, 2015, 02:28:21 PM
Yea bit crafty alright. Saying that though if it's up to scratch I'll tell the truth. At this stage I've done enough diy electrical this year that I'm looking forward to an out if the box job! #notsponsored
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Leann ull on December 15, 2015, 03:46:52 PM
Call yourself a Homebrewer
It goes without saying if you don't have the skills to wire your own stc and are not 100% confident in what you are doing...don't
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Greg2013 on December 15, 2015, 05:20:21 PM
Quote from: CH on December 15, 2015, 03:46:52 PM
Call yourself a Homebrewer
It goes without saying if you don't have the skills to wire your own stc and are not 100% confident in what you are doing...don't

Probably best to let the wife plug in the kettle to make the tea just to be safe. :P

In all fairness if you cant buy and wire up an stc1000 for under €20 then something is wrong, however thats just my opinion.  ;D

Mcmellow may i ask do you work for Inkbird in any capacity ?  If you do not then i apologise but to satisfy my own curiosity i have to ask. If on the other hand you are touting these devices just to help fellow brewers then i encourage you to become a member, people that are full members tend to get taken more seriously.  ;D
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: McMelloW on December 15, 2015, 06:49:42 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on December 15, 2015, 05:20:21 PM

Mcmellow may i ask do you work for Inkbird in any capacity ?  If you do not then i apologise but to satisfy my own curiosity i have to ask. If on the other hand you are touting these devices just to help fellow brewers then i encourage you to become a member, people that are full members tend to get taken more seriously.  ;D

No. I do not work for InkBird nor do I have any relation with them. I only bought an ITC-308 via amazon.  I also own a STC-1000 which I build in a box and did the wiring to the sockets.
So I was able to compare and touted the two devices.  I shared this experience on forums. So other readers can have benefit of it.

I am Dutch and live in The Netherlands. I am a member of this forum to find information on beer brewing. If I can share some of my knowledge I do. It is up to the reader what to do with this information
I do take all people seriously and judge them on their sayings and knowledge, not on any membership. So what is the benefit for me to become a full member.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Greg2013 on December 16, 2015, 05:38:48 AM
http://youtu.be/KAIYGhO1sus
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Garry on December 16, 2015, 09:39:57 AM
Quote from: Greg2013 on December 15, 2015, 05:20:21 PM
Mcmellow may i ask do you work for Inkbird in any capacity ?

That's just rude. McMellow is taking a lot of stick on this thread for no reason. He's gone out of his way to show us his purchase. It looks like a great product and I look forward to hearing more about it.

Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Simon_ on December 16, 2015, 10:12:18 AM
To properly weigh up the price of these versus a DIY STC housing you should swing by this thread (http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/index.php/topic,7491.0.html) and imagine the labour and cost that went into producing some of these monstrous bulky yokes   :P

The reason they're being spoken about favourably is because they fill a need for a finished product. STCs are great and cheap but I can't understand why no one has housed them before this crowd. I hope more companies offer the same thing.

Saying that I've got an STC and sockets in a drawer and I need another temp controller now so tonight I'm going to be building another monstrous yoke.

Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Leann ull on December 16, 2015, 12:25:35 PM
Quote from: Garry on December 16, 2015, 09:39:57 AM
Quote from: Greg2013 on December 15, 2015, 05:20:21 PM
Mcmellow may i ask do you work for Inkbird in any capacity ?

That's just rude. McMellow is taking a lot of stick on this thread for no reason. He's gone out of his way to show us his purchase. It looks like a great product and I look forward to hearing more about it.

Gary if you are going to call Greg out for being rude and quote him at least have the courtesy to use the full comment.

"Mcmellow may i ask do you work for Inkbird in any capacity ?  If you do not then i apologise but to satisfy my own curiosity i have to ask."

In view of the fact that Inkbird are sponsoring posters to promote their product with discounts if you buy one, I think it was a legitimate question.

The unit on the face of it looks good and I'm normally the first out of the blocks to buy this type of product, but I do have a problem with the potential use of "professional posters" taking advantage of our amateur forum particularly when I believe it is totally unnecessary for this item.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: McMelloW on December 16, 2015, 12:52:11 PM
Hi Guys,

No hard feelings, about asking or I have any connection with Inkbird.  I can understand people asked about sneaky commercial activities. Firms do try to get the attention to their products.  To me I did not take it as rude  for being asked.

On the other hands brewers do use product and publish their experience with the products on forums like this
On other forums firms can get permission and to do a raffle on a product. You can get  a product fo free or with large discount. The firm asks you to review their product and share it on the forum. This sounds fair to me.

Yes, Inkbird offered an ITC-308 with 80% discount, as you can read on the first posting in this thread and I did post it. So it was all in the open and clear from the start of the thread.

I am just a hobby brewer and happy to share my experience with others. As I also did with my Open ArdBir project.
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: ronniedeb on March 05, 2016, 05:20:07 PM
Thinking of getting one of these. How are those that bought them doing with them? A reliable product?
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Jonnycheech on March 05, 2016, 05:37:48 PM
I'm also thinking of buying one instead of another STC. Also interested in others opinions of the product?
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: armedcor on March 05, 2016, 11:01:47 PM
I was sent one of these FOC by inkbird a few months back so I might be slightly biased. Saying that I have mine plugged in right now to my heat belt and its keeping perfect temperature. It is super easy to enter the settings etc and it's basically plug & play.

I have an stc-1000 also by inkbird which is great but, I MUCH prefer how not ghetto the prebuilt is!
Title: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: Leann ull on March 06, 2016, 12:21:17 AM
Quote from: armedcor on March 05, 2016, 11:01:47 PM
I MUCH prefer how not ghetto the prebuilt is!

I don't get the same satisfaction from that mouse click
Title: Re: 80% off ITC-308 temperature controller EU standard outlet for review
Post by: ManseMasher on March 06, 2016, 04:06:34 PM
I have one, and after wiring up 2 STCs (which I did enjoy, but that's me) I have to say I am very impressed with it. They do a version with a 12" sensor now as well. I'm also looking at another version of an STC they do which can handle more than 10 amps for my latest project (electric HERMS setup).