Fermentation fridge controller

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m_rawdin
Piss Artist
Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:52 am
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Fermentation fridge controller

Post by m_rawdin » Mon Apr 03, 2017 3:55 pm

I am looking to get a digital controller for a fermentation fridge and am thinking of either the Inkbird ITC-306 or the ITC-308. Does anyone know which is better or if there is a cheaper option out there that does the same thing. I don't really want to build my own though I'd rather have a ready made unit.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341609746264187/

Fermenting: Nothing
Conditioning: Smoked porter
Drinking: Cider, witbier, brown ale, Milk stout
Planning: Gamma Ray clone v3

markd80
Sober
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2017 5:07 pm

Re: Fermentation fridge controller

Post by markd80 » Mon Apr 03, 2017 4:14 pm

I dont think the 306 has any cooling, so go for the 308
I have 2 308 units and I have an STC 1000 I built, and they both do exactly the same. Once you add all the bits to build your own (project box, cable) etc they probably work out the same price.
The 308 wasnt available when I built my first one which is why I built it

Jambo
Hollow Legs
Posts: 396
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:00 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: Fermentation fridge controller

Post by Jambo » Mon Apr 03, 2017 4:15 pm

Putting an STC-1000 in a box and wiring it up is really not very difficult but if you don't have parts and tools lying around it probably won't save you much money versus an Inkbird anyway.

Fil
Telling imaginary friend stories
Posts: 5229
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:49 pm
Location: Cowley, Oxford

Re: Fermentation fridge controller

Post by Fil » Mon Apr 03, 2017 4:33 pm

as well as the usual offerings could i suggest a slightly different approach.

buy one of these with a -DS18B20 probe for $12.10
https://www.itead.cc/sonoff-th.html
and one of these for $5
http://sonoff.itead.cc/en/products/sonoff/sonoff-basic

a 2.5mm 4pole m/f extension lead from amazon for <£3.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SuperWhole-2-5 ... B0114AA7XE

then wire the fridge or heater to one sonoff device and the other to the second sonoff device, then use one of the apps it works with, Ive use Ewelink, on your phone to set the heating and cooling to come on depending on the temperature the th16/10 measures.. (once you have registered the app and fed it your wifi details its a 5 minute job setting up the automatic function of the TH box, and creating a 'scene' (the ewelink word for macro) to switch on and off the 2nd device depending on the temperature.

you can remotely monitor the brews temp and control the fridge/heater, And if you get sick of the simple limitations of the off the shelf software and app you can reflash these devices with the addition of a 4pin program header to empty solderpads sat waiting on the board. they use the popular esp8266 chips which can be reprogramed using the arduino ide.. run brewpi(less) on one ;)

edit ** only real limitation ive seen so far is the of the shelf s/w and app thinks in 1 degree lumps so no 18.5C target temops, even tho the -DS18B20 is a more accurate sensor than that.
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

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MonsieurBadgerCheese
Steady Drinker
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2015 8:01 pm

Re: Fermentation fridge controller

Post by MonsieurBadgerCheese » Sun Apr 09, 2017 11:46 am

Hi,

I have the 308. Works well for me.

MBC :)

marinali29

Re: Fermentation fridge controller

Post by marinali29 » Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:52 am

m_rawdin wrote:I am looking to get a digital controller for a fermentation fridge and am thinking of either the Inkbird ITC-306 or the ITC-308. Does anyone know which is better or if there is a cheaper option out there that does the same thing. I don't really want to build my own though I'd rather have a ready made unit.
Hi,
This is Marina from Inkbird. I'm pleased to help you out.

We have Inkbird models,
ITC-306T-- plug in with 24 hours timer heating thermostat, no cooling function. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018K2DKYW

ITC-308-- plug in heating & cooling thermostat. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018K82UQU

ITC-310T, plug in http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019Q3K4EI
It is designed for home brewers, you can set 6 periods of temperature with its timer function, I known that brewers need different temperature during mashing,fermentation,storage ect. The timer function works based on the time not the temperature.  That means it will turn to next timer in spite of the temperature has not reached temperature you set.


for example: you set 2 stages
stage 1:  25°c for 2 hours,
stage 2:  20°c for 5 hours.  
Once exceed 2 hours, it will skip to stage 2 no matter what the temperature is.


ITC-1000 220V, DIY heating & cooling thermostat. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IJ0F2OW

As far as I know, most of the brewers used ITC-308, ITC-308S,ITC-310T and ITC-310T. For some brewing experts, the usually used PID temperature controller, like ITC-100VH with SSR and PT100/K thermocouple ect.

If any other questions when using the Inkbirds, feel free to contact us for help or leave me a message here.

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