David R Posted May 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Have asked that question of the seller, if its plug and play or needs to be hard wired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 It will need to hardwired, this is just a normal temp controller for hot rooms/chillers etc Some will switch a relay others will have full AC switching built in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/other-electronics/electronic-components/other/auction-474702740.htm Same model but cheeper. Current on Relay Contact:AC 5A/220VSo it looks like it will switch mains ok without a relay. Accuracy: ± 1 deg C (-50 ~ 70 deg C ) Temperature measuring difference: ±0.5 deg C Dont know if you want it more accurate though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/other-electronics/electronic-components/other/auction-474702740.htm Same model but cheeper. So it looks like it will switch mains ok without a relay. Dont know if you want it more accurate though? So, his problem is that his heater has an accuracy of +- 1 deg. Why would you replace it with a temp controller with an accuracy of +-1 deg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 So, his problem is that his heater has an accuracy of +- 1 deg. Why would you replace it with a temp controller with an accuracy of +-1 deg?That is why I said I don't know if you want it more accurate. I dont know how accurate the controller is on my chiller, it doesn't have 1/10 deg on the display but the tank never varies by more than about .2 deg by the two digital thermometers in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserNZ Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Ive been having a look on Ebay at the different thermostat options, and they all have a variance of 1c or .5c no real point in adding one in my opinion. However, I'm like you, I love burning money on aquarium gadgets and what not :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted May 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 My reason for wanting one is so both heaters will turn off and on together rather than trying to get both their thermostats in sync, so +-1C would be acceptable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserNZ Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 http://www.fish-street.com/aquarium_atc-300_timer_with_temperature_controllerheat?category_id=60 How about that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 http://www.fish-street.com/aquarium_atc-300_timer_with_temperature_controllerheat?category_id=60 How about that? ... What about this one, all the way from Czech; http://www.top-thermostat.com/en/produkt-1564/aquarium-temperature-controller-atc-300a.html?currency=eur on last page :cofn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserNZ Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 haha yes, but only this ones cheaper :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 I looked at this problem when I had tanks too. There seems to be very little available that isn't very expensive. You can buy industrial controllers with the temperature accuracy you're looking for which also include PID control to help keep the temperature even more stable. I currently have no fish (shame I know) but do have a controlled server room. I wanted to keep the temperature at a constant 25'C±0.5'C and humidity at 50%±2%. This was going to be possible with industrial controllers but at approx $2k for the parts I decided to make my own. I purchased an accurate humidity sensor and borrowed a high accuracy temperature sensor from work permanently (could have bought one for $1.50)... Then I designed a controller using an Atmel AtMega16 Microcontroller + 20 x 4 Character LCD Display and made up a small PCB to put all the bits on. This switched a series of relays to control heating, cooling and humidity and speed controlled fans. Writing the C code was the funnest part as I'd never written code for PID control before so there was a big learning curve. I could have just gone with proportional control only but that would have meant accepting variations in actual temperature vs setpoint temperature due to the amount of energy required to control the temperature. Are you interested in making your own - then you can still spend money and build something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted May 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 Are you interested in making your own - then you can still spend money and build something Not right now, I've just bought the one above from fishstreet, and we're in the midst of hunting for a house/section and planing a build. Just need to get some adapters to get it up and running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted December 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2012 Right-o, time to bump this up seems how I've finally got around to buying a couple of adapters to get this thing running! Seems to be doing everything its supposed to, thermometer seems fairly accurate (if my memory of how far out my other digital ones are!), very easy to set, plenty of cable on the probe. Only downside is the length of the power cable from the plug to the multi-board where you plug in the heaters etc, only about 30cm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted December 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2012 So far seems to be working very well, maintaining the tank at a more consistent temperature (within ~1C) than the individual heaters thermostats, and the display is easy to read and you can see at a glance whether the heaters are on or off. Worthwhile investment for anyone running more than one heater IMO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted December 25, 2012 Report Share Posted December 25, 2012 If you run two heaters each with a thermostat chances are only one will operate and the other will be backup. Ah, so that's why I see one going all the time and the other only every now and then. Better circulation could help Why is that important? I thought heaters were meant to stay away from circulation otherwise it interferred with their thermostats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 25, 2012 Report Share Posted December 25, 2012 good flow ensures the temperature is even across the tank low flow can mean the heater is only heating the water immediately around it then turning off quite quickly thermal drift will then move cooler water onto heater to turn it back on and so on and so on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted December 26, 2012 Report Share Posted December 26, 2012 That's good to know, thanks. I moved heaters over, to be near air lines or filters :cr9: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 I need to write an article for the next Aquarium World. I think I might just write one on how to DIY your own temperature controller. Unfortunately to do this yourself using electronic bits you will need to know a bit about electronics but at least the info will be there for anyone who wants to give it a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 I need to write an article for the next Aquarium World. I think I might just write one on how to DIY your own temperature controller. Unfortunately to do this yourself using electronic bits you will need to know a bit about electronics but at least the info will be there for anyone who wants to give it a go. Oooh, I'd like to see that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Oooh, I'd like to see that. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted December 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Would be interesting to see it, the one I bought is a good easy option but can only handle up to 1000W, so I may need something bigger for my new tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 I need to write an article for the next Aquarium World. I think I might just write one on how to DIY your own temperature controller. Unfortunately to do this yourself using electronic bits you will need to know a bit about electronics but at least the info will be there for anyone who wants to give it a go. Yes please Warren! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted December 29, 2012 Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 Double pretty please with knobs on Warren :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted December 29, 2012 Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 Double pretty please with knobs on Warren :bounce: Caryl, I was thinking of doing one version with a knob and one version with buttons so it should keep you happy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted December 29, 2012 Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 Very thoughtful of you :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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