Wednesday, June 29, 2022
HomeHomebrewArms On Evaluate: Inkbird ITC-308 Twin Stage Temperature Controller +WiFi Model

Arms On Evaluate: Inkbird ITC-308 Twin Stage Temperature Controller +WiFi Model


Inkbird’s ITC-308 Digital Twin Stage Temperature Controller is a twin stage, pre-wired Digital Temperature Controller


Our ITC-308 Deal Pages:

These pages present our most up-to-date offers for these nice controllers

Inkbird ITC-308 Digital Twin Stage Temp Controller [Kegerator or Fermentation] – $24.50, Save 30% w/Stacking Coupons! + Arms on Evaluate

Inkbird ITC-308 WiFi Digital Twin Stage Temp Controller – $34.99, Save 30% w/Stacking Coupons! + Arms on Evaluate


The ITC-308 comes within the authentic model in addition to an up to date Wi-Fi enabled mannequin.  This assessment covers each editions of this controller.

Why a Temp Controller?

Temperature controllers, generally known as over-riding thermostats, can management units like fridges, freezers and fermentation heating units to offer a constant temperature on your kegerator, fermentation chamber or brew system. They do that by monitoring the temperature and biking on and off the gadget in query. Usually, you’ll set the gadget to full cooling or heating energy and the temperature controller takes over from there.


Test Costs, Present Specs & Availability, Evaluate Continues Under:


Twin vs Single Stage

Twin stage signifies that the ITC-308 can management each a heating and cooling gadget.  Alternatively, it might management a heating or a cooling gadget.  This controller shows in Fahrenheit and Centigrade.  Twin Show reveals each measured and set temperature.

Arms on Evaluate Inkbird’s ITC-308 Temp Controller

inkbird temperature controller reviewA take a look at the fieldcln_img_9951The controller physique.  The management has two readouts.  The highest is labeled PV.  That stands for “Course of Worth” and shows the present temperature.  The second studying is SV or Set Worth.  It shows the set temperature.  There are two lights beneath these readouts indicating whether or not the controller is asking for cooling or heating.  The unit has three buttons – SET, up and down.  To get into settings maintain the SET button down for 3 seconds.  A brief press of SET cycles by obtainable settings whereas the up and down buttons change values.

The ITC-308 has the next parameters – develop the part beneath to see the listing.  This listing reveals the menu abbreviation adopted by the complete setting identify adopted by a definition of what that setting means or does as greatest as I perceive.  Notice that obtainable choices might change over time if Inkbird chooses to replace software program on this controller.  Further settings could also be obtainable for the Wi-Fi model.

Parameters and Descriptions

  • TS – Temperature Set Worth – Your goal temperature
  • HD – Heating Differential – Typically referred to as offset by different producers. This tells the controller how shut you need to maintain the temperature to the specified temperature set worth.  If you need it to remain very shut, you’d set it at 1 diploma.  That in all probability is smart for fermentation.  Should you’re not as involved you might let it wander a number of levels.  Which will make sense on your kegerators.  Notice: Whereas some controllers have solely a single offset or differential worth that applies to heating and cooling, the ITC-308 breaks this out into each heating and cooling variables.  The HD determine applies whereas heating, whereas whereas the CD determine applies when cooling.  Right here is an instance from the guide – “For instance, set TS=25°C, CD=2°C , and HD=3°C, then when measured temperature is larger or equal to 27°C(TS+CD), system enters refrigeration standing; when temperature decline to 25°C(TS), cease refrigeration; when measured temperature is decrease or equal to 22°C(TS-HD, system enters heating standing; when the temperature raised to 25°C(TS), cease heating.”
  • CD – Cooling Differential – See HD for an outline of CD
  • AH – Alarm Excessive Restrict – When measured temperature is larger or equal to AH, excessive temperature alarm might be triggered.
  • AL – Alarm Low Restrict – When measured temperature is decrease or equal to AL, low temperature alarm might be triggered
  • PT – Compressor Delay – Typically referred to as Anti-Quick Cycle Delay by different producers – This is a vital characteristic that helps to guard your freezer or fridge’s compressor. This setting (often expressed in minutes) tells the controller the minimal period of time to let the compressor relaxation. That is no matter different settings. Instance: ASD set to five minutes. The cooling cycle has simply kicked off in your chest freezer based mostly kegerator and also you open the lid. One minute later the probe has warmed up and is once more calling for cooling… Nothing occurs till the 5 minutes has handed. Overriding temp controllers are asking cooling units to do one thing they might not have been engineered for. A typical chest freezer cycles on solely hardly ever when used as a freezer. Setting these to a 1 diploma offset for fermentation temp management isn’t precisely what the engineers had in thoughts. ASD helps mitigate that problem and prolong the lifetime of your gadget.  From the guide: “Below refrigeration mode, after energy on, if the measured temperature is larger than the worth of setting temperature(TS) plus cooling differential(CD), the gear gained’t begin refrigeration instantly, however ready for a delay time.”
  • CA – Temperature Calibration – Use this setting to calibrate or appropriate the controller.  From the guide: “When there may be deviation between measured temperature and precise temperature, use temperature calibration perform to align the measured temperature and precise temperature. The corrected temperature is the same as temperature earlier than calibration plus corrected worth( corrected worth could possibly be optimistic worth, 0 or unfavorable worth)”
  • CF – Temperature Unit C or F – Change the show between Fahrenheit and Celsius

 

ITC-308 worth ranges in Fahrenheit Mode.  Seek the advice of Guide for Centigrade Ranges

cln_img_9952A take a look at the ability and temperature cablescln_img_9955A take a look at the 5′ temperature cablecln_img_0639The producer says that the temperature probe is waterproof and submersible.  I’ve discovered that to be true.  Right here is the probe submerged in a growler.  I left it submerged for a couple weeks and it continued to work as anticipated.cln_img_9956Right here’s a take a look at the plug in cable.  It has two retailers, one labeled cooling and one labeled heating.  Plug your cooling gadget (sometimes a fridge or freezer) into the cooling gadget and your heating gadget into the heating outlet.  You may as well go away both unplugged when you’re solely inquisitive about heating or cooling.  Through the use of each a heating and cooling gadget you may actually dial in fermentation temperature.  Or, when you’re working a kegerator, you’re in all probability solely inquisitive about cooling.  The Itc-308 and comparable controllers are generally referred to as overriding temperature controllers.  The thermostat on this unit basically takes over management out of your heating or cooling gadget by biking on and off the ability as wanted.

cln_img_0433On this image, I’m utilizing a Lasko MyHeat 100 to maintain my fermentation temp up.  Notice: At all times learn and observe producer’s instructions.  Should you’re on the lookout for one thing for the warmth aspect of the equation, take a look at one thing like a Homebrew Fermentation Heater

cln_img_9965A take a look at the show at the hours of darkness

cln_img_1079Again of the unit.  Shows some specs and extra data.cln_img_1077The mounting gap in use.  A screw shouldn’t be included.cln_img_1085I examined accuracy utilizing an ice water bathtub.  Right here is the probe submerged in an ice water bathtub housed in a Spiegelau Stout Glass.

cln_img_1084The ice water reads 32.5 deg F.  That’s inside .5 deg F and comparatively spectacular.  For a degree of reference, that beats the said accuracy tolerance for each the CDN-DTQ450X (+ or – 2 deg F) and the Thermapen Mk4 (+ or – .7 deg F).  The ITC-308 can be calibrated if crucial.

cln_img_0006One of many first issues I used this for was sustaining temperature whereas carbonating with my Spunding Valve.  See: Construct a Spunding Valvecln_plinyFermenting Nice Fermentations’ “Piney the Weldercln_porterFermenting Nice Fermentations’ Darkish Facet Strong Porter


Addendum – Arms on Evaluate Inkbird ITC-308 WiFi

Inkbird launched an up to date model of the ITC-308 with WifFi performance within the first quarter of 2019.  This addendum is by Homebrew Finds Contributor Brad Probert.  Brad is an engineer, skilled homebrewer and skilled reviewer.

In Motion Fermenting Utilizing a Spike Brewing Flex FermentorArms on Evaluate

After utilizing the Tilt Bluetooth Hydrometer on many fermentation batches, having the ability to have constantly up to date gravity readings has opened up new prospects for me throughout fermentation. Whereas monitoring the developments in gravity over time, I can see when fermentation charge is beginning to sluggish, and I can step in and bump up the temperature to maintain issues transferring alongside. That is what I do on all my fermentations now. Begin at a temperature on the low finish of the yeast’s temperature vary, after which simply maintain tabs on the gravity drop charge.

Tilt Knowledge Plot (click on to enlarge) – reveals temp adjustment factors – Arms on Evaluate Tilt Bluetooth Hydrometer

Nonetheless, I developed a brand new sort of FOMO (Concern Of Lacking Out). I’d now be sitting at work checking the progress of fermentation after which be thrown right into a panic as a result of I might see the gravity beginning to decelerate and I used to be helpless at work, not capable of bump up the temperature. I’ve even referred to as dwelling after I was out of city and talked my 12-year previous son by the method of the right way to enhance the set level temperature. So after I noticed Inkbird had a Wi-Fi controller, I used to be excited.

App Screenshot – heating lively modeApp screenshot – settingsHeating and Cooling ShopsTemp Probe

The controller works precisely just like the common ITC-308 controller with simple temperature set level adjustment, a hardwired temperature probe included, and a receptacle that has each a Cooling and Heating plug. With the Wi-Fi characteristic, a one-time setup course of completed through a downloaded App in your telephone provides you the power to examine the temperature studying and alter the set level temperature up or down remotely through your smartphone. So now, each time I examine the gravity from my Tilt reporting, if I see I want to regulate the temperature, I simply swap over to the Inkbird app and alter it. Completely easy, and no extra FOMO.


Conclusions

The ITC-308 by Inkbird is a superb temperature controller.  It’s correct, simple to make use of, has nice options and is dependable.  Due to it’s options and basic worth, I referred to as this a sport changer when it first got here out.  After utilizing it for years, I’ll stand by that.  So far as evaluating basic worth and options to different controllers, as of this writing, I don’t know of something that’s near the Inkbird ITC-308.

After years of utilizing the unique ITC-308 temperature controller, I can heartily suggest it to you to help with fermentation and kegerator temperature management.  I feel the ITC-308 is an excellent alternative.

Test Costs, Present Specs & Availability, Evaluate Continues Under:

Associated Assets:

Extra Homebrew Finds!

Particular Because of Inkbird for offering the WiFi unit used for analysis on this assessment.

Be sure that the parts you utilize are appropriate and rated on your supposed software.  Contact producer with questions on suitability or a selected software.  At all times learn and observe producer instructions. assessment:itc308 tag:tpr rs:6

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -
Google search engine

Most Popular

Recent Comments